Tag Archives: Farewell My Ugly

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Go And Take It

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Week 43 of 2023

Greetings all

Most falls, I get a cold. It knocks me back for a bit. This week was the week for that. I got almost no writing done, though I did get a number of side projects done, including some work on my website. I’ve been adding some things in preparation for the release of Farewell, My Ugly, which comes out on November 7th.

Farewell, My Ugly
Farewell, My Ugly

Did I mention Farewell, My Ugly comes out on November 7th? In that case, it’s time for a cover reveal. Check this out, again from J. Caleb Designs. It’s brilliant, as usual.

I spent this week trying to write on a number of projects. I got some words written here and there, but not much. I’m finally on the other side, though, so this will be a great week.

I did manage to get a bunch of books priced and organized. The store is taking shape. Next week, I’ll have more pictures. We’re only about 3 weeks from opening day.

Exciting times!

Also exciting is for the third time ever, the Texas Rangers advanced to the World Series. The first major league sporting event I ever attended was a Rangers game back in 1974 or so. The stadium was wretched, but I loved it and ran around in all sorts of places I shouldn’t have.

I still recall the names of Toby Harrah (who would’ve been a huge player in today’s time with his excellent walk rate), Jeff Burroughs, Fergie Jenkins, Charlie Hough, and even Lenny Randle and Frank Lucchesi. They weren’t good teams, but they’ve been my team since I had a team.

So, to coin a phrase, #GoAndTakeIt.

With that, I’m going to cut this short. I’ve got bunches of stuff to catch up on, and I’ll get a bit more written tonight. Have a great week.

What I’m Listening To

No football so far tonight. Spending time with the wife and mom-in-law watching older Midsomer Murders. Man, I wonder what the homicide per 100,000 rate is there. Is it worse or better than Cabot Cove?

Happenings in Anthony

Not much to report, as I was in the house all week.

Quote of the Week

Happy OK Corral Day!!! Which of course makes me think of Tombstone, and that makes this week’s quote obvious.

“I’m your huckleberry.”
– Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.

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 been shot, shadowing my memory

Latest Snippet: Chapter 1 of The Eyes of a Doll.

New Mythology Works in Progress

I’m pleased to announce the 2024 FantaSci Short Story Contest. Get the details here: chriskennedypublishing.com/2023/03/28/2024-fantasci-short-story-contest/.

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)
  • Ruriksaga (52,626)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Get Where Now the Rider here: amazon.com/dp/product/B0CK6Q8TYV.

This week we have more from the amazing D.T. Read. She’s got book 2 in her Sergey Chronicles series, entitled Echoes of Issel. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/product/B0CL8CRY38.

And it’s time for more Salvage Title adventures! This week’s pre-order is Salvage Search, which you can get here: amazon.com/dp/B0CLR91ZWF.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 357.8

Updated Word Count: Accounting mostly done. Well over 300k. Exact count net week.

Firehall Sagas Archives: 749 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: It’s Alive!

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Week 30 of 2023

Greetings all

A Lake Most Deep is live and has had a great week already. You can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CCKVLPBL.

Achrida
Achrida

By the way, this is the first in the books of the Firehall Sagas, which has its own home page at: https://firehallsagas.com. There’s all sorts of things there including descriptions of people, places, and things in the world of Eard.

It also has the maps! Here’s the new map to Achrida, the city where all the action in A Lake Most Deep happens. Click for the bigger version.

I had a great week talking about it too. Thanks to HP Holo for having me on her show on Saturday. You can watch the video here: facebook.com/rhodri2112/videos/142667502188632.

Then, I was on Inside CKP with Jeremy Comeaux on Monday. Watch this one here: youtube.com/watch?v=YQc3FEO3LBo.

What an amazing release week and thanks to a huge list of people for helping make it awesome.

But wait, there’s more news about A Lake Most Deep! It’s part of this month’s book giveaway headed by Dave Butler. It’s even the headline book (never mind they’re listed in alphabetical order). Check out this page for the complete list: davidjohnbutler.com/giveaways/july-2023-six-fantasy-books-giveaway/.

To explain, there will be 5 winners chosen this weekend from all who sign up and each will get 6 books, physical, signed copies, from the ones listed there. That’s like $100 value, so it’s well worth taking the time to sign up.

Again, that’s davidjohnbutler.com/giveaways/july-2023-six-fantasy-books-giveaway/.

Overall, this has just been a fantastic week. I made progress on a number of projects, including Farewell, My Ugly. I also had a couple of really cool things happen early in the week that I can’t tell you about yet, but are awesome. Finally, I’m typing this update in Grove City, PA, which consistent readers will recognize as my normal stopping point the night before Pennsic.

And what a Pennsic this promises to be as it’s Pennsic 50. I’ve been about 20 times now, and it is truly a home. Friends I see once a year, great bardic circles, stories of old and new ones getting made, it’s just something special.

Best of all, Pennsics have become productive, what with the way I have my shop set up and the ability to work whenever there’s no customers. Either I’m getting words on the page or selling something. It’s works out well.

I’ll get you updates while I’m there, but for now, I’m off to get a good night’s sleep. I’m going to need it.

What I’m Listening To

Not much. In the hotel room relaxing after a long and moderately arduous trip.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Gary Gygax. Thanks for bringing D&D into the world, my life is so much better for that. Here’s a great quote that actually describes my writing style too.

The worthy GM never purposely kills players’ PCs, He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own.

– Gary Gygax

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 am a king      Conquering all before me

Latest Snippet: Chapter 1of A Lake Most Deep

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)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (77,112)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

More Salvage Title awesomeness from Nick Steverson and Melissa Olthoff! Privateers & Pandemonium is live and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CC9TGLJS.

Your pre-release this week is Tinaree: Forged in Crucible by Nic Plume. This is book 2 in her Shadows of Peace series and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/product/B0CCTC4BYB.

And, of course, A Lake Most Deep, book 1 of the Firehall Sagas is live. You can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CCKVLPBL.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 352.0

Updated Word Count: 207,132

Firehall Sagas Archives: 743 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: Carthago Delenda Est

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Week X of 2023

Greetings all

No, that’s not a typo. It really is Week X of 2023, not just my template. Yes, I’m the guy who puts up a V and says “Five beers please.”

Ha! I slay me. And it matches this week’s quote.

Anyway. It’s been a huge week here, though you won’t see it in all the numbers. Lots of projects around here and the next couple of months are going to be something, let me tell you.

This past weekend was an SCA get together, a heraldic retreat. Yes, I’m into heraldry. I’m sure that’s shocking. We spent the week talk about charges, field divisions, ordinaries, and so much more. We also played Puns of Anarchy, which is perfect for heralds.

If you didn’t think I could get any geekier, well, there you go.

But more on that when the time comes. I did a bunch of work Farewell, My Ugly and I’ve just about pushed through a major snarl that I had to unravel. I’m pretty pleased about that. Only one more transition to go, really, and transitions are what truly slow me down.

Even with all the other stuff and the snarl, I ended up with over 5000 words written and a bunch of issues cleared up on the draft. I tend to mark things on my manuscript that I need to fix later or double check with XX. I found a bunch of those and fixed them. Go me.

I also did some editing on Where Now the Rider. My hope is to have both ready to go by the end of March, and I’m on track.

What I’m Listening To

A Marple mystery from the BBC. I love the fact that they occasionally show her reading Raymond Chandler novels.

Quote of the Week

Carthago delenda est!
– Cicero

It’s the anniversary of Rome’s victory over Carthage in the Battle of the Aegetes, which ended the first Punic War. Cato, famously, ended his speeches in the Senate with today’s quote, which means, “Carthage must be destroyed.”

It’s such a famous phrase, Wikipedia even has an article about it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthago_delenda_est.

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 (Coming March 13th):

Love have I waged                   War have I wooed

Latest Snippet: Chapter 3 of Farewell, My Ugly

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 (65,545)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

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

Your pre-release this week is 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.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 348.2

Updated Word Count: 106,104

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: Ch-Ch-Changes

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Week 43 of 2022

Greetings all

There’s a whole lot of changing going on around these parts. I can’t really get into everything yet, but there’s a lot of cool stuff happening.

In other words, stay tuned!

Arranging things this past week slowed me down a bit. I only wrote about 3000 in Farewell My Ugly.

I did, however, get a bunch done on other projects. First, I started the freshening up process on A Lake Most Deep.

I love the story in A Lake Most Deep. I made great characters, a neat setting, and fun mystery. I also made a ton of rookie mistakes. It’s been my worst book, not surprising because it’s my first book, and it’s time for me to make it as good technically as I think it is artistically.

I talked about this some in our recording of Dudes In Hyperspace this week. The thing that struck me as I read through the manuscript for the first time in a while is that I love this story and the characters.

And also, I’m so much better than I used to be. It doesn’t hurt that in the last couple of years I’ve edited almost 2 million words. I may not be the most experienced editor, but I’m certainly settling on a style.

My own writing will benefit greatly from that style.

Also, this week, we made great progress on Responsibility of the Throne, book 2 in G. Scott Huggins’ excellent Endless Ocean series. Expect a cover reveal soon.

Also, we’re getting going on Shadow, Ash, and Prophecy, the sequel to Heart, Wings, and Fire.

Oh, and I did a bunch of reading on the stories sent to me for Bonds of Valor. There’s some good stuff in there, and I can’t wait to see more. See below for the submission guidelines.

So a variety of things. And I’m so excited to see where these changes lead me.

What I’m Listening To

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin. I got the remastered version recently and decided to wallow in it. It’s probably my favorite Zep album, though on occasion it’s Houses of the Holy.

My thoughts on Houses of the Holy are this: it’s like the Don Sutton of album. Sutton was rarely, if ever, the best pitcher in baseball on any given year, but year after year he was very good to great for 23 years.

Houses of the Holy is like that. Every song is very good. It’s overall consistency is amazing, and I can listen to it every day. It doesn’t have that transcendent song, but it’s all very good to great.

Physical Graffiti has a weak link here and there for me, but it also has a couple of transcendent songs in Kashmir and Ten Years Gone.

Anyway, I’m enjoying it.

Quote of the Week

It’s a great time of year for baseball fans and the playoffs have been fun so far. So, besides the Don Sutton reference, I’m going to wish Mickey Mantle’s memory a happy birthday.

When I’m hitting, I’d play for nothing. When I’m not, any kind of money I receive makes me feel as if I’m stealing.
– Mickey Mantle

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+.

A Murder of Wolves by Jamie Ibson came out on the the 11th.

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

Rejected
Rejected

This week we have a book exchange! You should check out Rejected by R.M. Demeester.

Echo Paisley has been on her own since her fiancé, Nash, died three years ago. She soon discovered that she didn’t know the man she was going to marry. He had cheated on her with the one person she thought had her back. But that wasn’t the only secret.

Echo is about to leave her past behind when she discovers one last secret Nash left behind, which threatens to turn her life upside down. Echo is forced to seek help from her estranged mother with no one else to turn to.

Get this thriller here: amazon.com/dp/B0B1VXL6V5.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (33,581)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week we have Gates of Hell, the 3rd book in William S. Frisbee Jr.’s The Last Marines series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BHY4V5NM/.

Your pre-release this week is The Last Stand. This is a new series from Chris Kennedy and Kevin Ikenberry.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 331.6

Updated Word Count: 397,024

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Release the Hounds!

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Week 42 of 2022

Greetings all

This week, we released A Murder of Wolves by Jamie Ibson, the 9th book in the Eldros Legacy. It’s a howling (get it?) good adventure and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BHRKNYD5.

I’ve been working on edits for Responsibility of the Throne this week, sequel to Responsibility of the Crown by G. Scott Huggins. He’s such a strong writer and the characters are great.

I’ve also spent this week working on Farewell, My Ugly. I made huge progress, topping 30k this week. I’m aiming at 80k, so it’s over a 3rd done. I’m definitely better at hard-boiled and noir imagery than I was when I stumbled around writing A Lake Most Deep.

I also spent much of this week working on some foundational work that I’m looking forward to talking about down the road. I’m excited about more new projects. Expect to have a big update next week about the new plans.

You guys have a great week. I’m off to date night with the sweetie.

What I’m Listening To

Palästinalied Congregatio by Corvus Corax. These guys are another one of those bands who play medieval music on medieval instruments but do it with a metal crunch.

This particular song is around 800 years old. Here’s the Wikipedia link to more details: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pal%C3%A4stinalied

Quote of the Week

Sadly, this week we lost Angela Lansbury, so here’s a quote every author had said at one time or another to their computer:

“All right, we come to an understanding, or one of us doesn’t leave here alive.”
– Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher.

Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes a fun interview with Nick Steverson.

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+.

A Murder of Wolves by Jamie Ibson came out on the 11th.

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

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (30,590)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week we have D.T Read’s Running from the Gods. Get it here: amazon.com//dp/B0BHCMKH2L.

And of course, A Murder of Wolves by Jamie Ibson, the 9th book in the Eldros Legacy. It’s a howling (get it?) good adventure and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BHRKNYD5.

Your pre-release this week is Gates of Hell, the 3rd book in William S. Frisbee Jr.’s The Last Marines series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BHY4V5NM/.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 332.4

Updated Word Count: 395,925 (For some reason, I stopped entering in all the stuff I’d edited, which I count as a 1/4 a page. This now matches last year’s process. If you’re interested, I’m currently at 944,000 and I’ll go over a million edited this year. Last year, it was about 783,000.)

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Heart, Wings, and Fire

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Week 41 of 2022

Greetings all

Heart, Wings, and Fire
Heart, Wings, and Fire

What a week! There was the  release of Heart, Wings, and Fire by Trisha J. Wooldridge. This is a great story inspired by Asian myths and legends that includes princesses, dragons, and fey, oh, my!

I met Trisha at Superstars and she’s is incredibly impressive. Smart, enthusiastic, and talented. Hard to pass up this combination and I’m incredibly honored to have been able to publish her in New Mythology Press.

By the way, get Heart, Wings, and Fire here: amazon.com/dp/B0BGZ3ST1M.

A Murder of Wolves
A Murder of Wolves

But wait, more’s just around the corner! The 9th Eldros Legacy novel comes out this upcoming Tuesday. It’s A Murder of Wolves by Jamie Ibson. It’s got a bit of military fantasy mixed with swords and sorcery and a lot of adventure.

Again, this comes out on Tuesday and it’s great.

By the way, in last week’s poll, the cover for A Murder of Wolves edged out the cover of Heart, Wings, and Fire. I think I like the art on Wolves better, but the title treatment of Heart is amazing, so that pushes it over the top for me.

On my end of things here I had one of those weeks where I was productive but the numbers won’t exactly show it. I’ve had a bunch of words come out on Farewell, My Ugly, but I cut a bunch as well. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that’s part of my process.

Like I say, it won’t really show up in the running tally below, but this was one of my best weeks in a while, topping 7,000 new words even if about that number went by the wayside.

I’m in the midst of the transition from Act I to Act II and I realized that a bunch of what I had in Act I really doesn’t drive the story, but this new stuff will absolutely push us ahead.

I also took a bit of time off, like really off, this past weekend while the sweetie was off in North Dakota. I told y’all I’d watch football, and I did, watching 6 NFL games and some or all of 8 college games.

I have to admit I’m especially excited about the University of Kansas Jayhawks right now. I don’t ever expect them to win, so going 5-0 thus far is way ahead of expectations.

They’re even hosting College GameDay, a big thing for college football, this weekend. This is ESPN’s Saturday pregame show and they move it around to various campuses to give fans a chance to be a part of the show. It’s quite fun, and this is the first time ever it’s been to Lawrence. Whether they beat TCU this weekend or not, it’s already been a successful season for the Jayhawks.

Rock, chalk, baby!

And with that, I’m going to go write a fight scene. Have a great week everyone.

What I’m Listening To

Currently, I’m listening to Wolgemut play Chanzonetta Tedesca. Wolgemut is a neat band that uses medieval instruments to play medieval songs but often with a metal edge and enthusiasm. Really fun, fantastic stuff.

Here’s their website: wolgemut.net.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to the amazing David Brin!

If you have other things in your life-family, friends, good productive day work-these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer.
– David Brin

Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes a fun interview with Nick Steverson.

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+.

A Murder of Wolves by Jamie Ibson comes out on the 11th of October.

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

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • Farewell, My Ugly (23,685)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week’s release is Vendetta Protocol by Kevin Ikenberry. It’s actually a re-release of Kevin’s first series and it’s fantastic. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BGN41SY7.

Your pre-release this week is D.T Read’s Running from the Gods. Get it here: amazon.com//dp/B0BHCMKH2L.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 333.2

Updated Word Count: 159,067

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Home at Cooper’s Lake

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Week 32 of 2022

Greetings all

Pennsic 2022
Pennsic 2022

I’m home! Well, my two week summer home, at least. Here’s a picture of my shop with my friend Mar for scale (not for sale, unless you make a really good offer).

I’m so happy to be here. I get to see friends I haven’t seen in 3 years or more. I’ve sung songs, laughed, cried, and sold books. Exactly what I’d hoped. In fact, better than I hoped, at least in terms of sales to this point in the event.

I can even enjoy it when it rains, as it doing right now. I’m snug in my tent enjoying the sound of raindrops on canvas, which is very soothing.

I’ve also gotten some writing done, as you’ll see some progress in a number of things. My setup is designed for me to get words on the page when there are no customers to sell to. However, since there are customers, I can’t always write in large chunks. I have 3 novels I need to make progress on so I’ve got them all open to get a sentence here, a paragraph there. Whatever comes to mind.

And, of course, deal with all the publisher stuff. Embers & Ash went out to the ARC readers today. That comes out on August 16th, right after I get home from Pennsic. It’s a great story with coming-of-age parts, gothic horror hints, and a giant, flying riding bats!

The novels I’m working on are two you’d expect, Farewell, My Ugly and Sowing Spring’s Wrath, but next summer I need to finish my Foresters trilogy so I’m throwing a few words at The Feasting of Vengeance as well.

What I’m Listening To

The pitter-patter of rain on canvas.

Quote of the Week

As I’m writing Sowing Spring’s Wrath on the heels of The Door Into Winter, this Shelley verse seems apt, especially since it’s his birthday.

“And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.”

– Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Sensitive Plant

Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes a delicious conversation about BBQ with Jim Nettles.

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+.

Embers & Ash by Marie Whittaker is coming soon!

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 Pain Bearer, September’s Eldros Legacy release by Kendra Merritt.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (2,113) (Tempted to delete a word here)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (20,720)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (2,838)
Upcoming Events
  • Pennsic, 29 July – 14 August, Cooper’s Lake Campground, PA, pennsicwar.org/
  • FenCon, 16-18 September, Irving, TX, fencon.org/
New Releases

Focus on the Wind, the 3rd in Mike Wyant’s Anisian Convergence series is out this week. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0B7S6F8VH

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 323.0

Updated Word Count: 147,818

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Hovering

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Week 31 of 2022

Greetings all

At the moment, I’m hovering just not of the Pennsic battlefield in Grove City, PA. This is my traditional night before Pennsic stopping point. It’s close, an easy drive, and has several food and hotel choices. My old standby, the Elephant and Castle is no more, but it’s still really convenient.

It was a week filled with travel. Since my last update, I’ve driven 2000 miles over approximately a day and a half of actual drive time, not counting overnight stays. And that’s not counting 200 miles to get to Council Bluffs, IA, where I wrote last week’s update. There was also two days at a family reunion where I forgot many a name but had a great time nonetheless.

The route took me to North Dakota, then across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s quite a scenic drive in places, especially where you’re going right next to Lake Superior or Lake Michigan. I actually added to the drive so I could drive along Lake Huron in the lower part of Michigan.

I had several good writing sessions along the way, both with Farewell, My Ugly and Sowing Spring’s Wrath, which now actually has words listed in its entry down below.

I also worked on a number of projects, mostly shifting tasks from one person to another. Small stuff in the main, but it all has to be done.

Tomorrow, I will get into Pennsic and begin the process of setting up. Anymore, this is a huge process that will take at least a couple of days, especially on the shop side of things.

My camp takes a goodly amount to set up and tear down, but for the next 2+ weeks, it’ll be as comfortable a place as I could want, except for the fact that my sweetie is stuck at home working.

The drawback of being an itinerant salesman at times, but in return I get bardic circles every night.

I’ve missed Pennsic. After 3 long years, I am so glad to be home.

What I’m Listening To

The overhead music at a place called Hoss’s. It’s too faint for me to make out much, but what I can is bland. However, they had a coffee-rubbed steak that was actually quite tasty.

Quote of the Week

Today, in 1809, Wellington led a British/Spanish force to defeat the French at the Battle of Talavera. I, like many, automatically think of Richard Sharpe when I think of the Peninsular War, so here’s a quote from Sharpe’s Eagle, the TV version of Bernard Cornwell’s book of the same name, which covers Talavera.

Sir Henry Simmerson : What makes a good soldier, Sharpe?

Richard Sharpe : The ability to fire three rounds a minute. In any weather, sir!
– Sharpe’s Eagle

Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes a delicious conversation about BBQ with Jim Nettles.

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+.

Embers & Ash by Marie Whittaker is coming soon!

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 Chimaera Coup, a new series written by Chris Nuttall.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (1,392)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (18,132)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

This week, we have the second of James Tarr’s Echoes of Pangaea series, Fire and Bone. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0B73NG155.

And it’s obviously not a new release, but if you haven’t gotten into the Eldros Legacy yet, here’s Khyven the Unkillable by the incomparable Todd Fahnestock. This is the first of what is currently 6 books, with the 7th out in August, the 8th out in September, and so on. Get the book that started it all here: amazon.com/gp/product/B09Z9W3ZSH.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 323.0

Updated Word Count: 147,095

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