Tag Archives: John Siers

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Hither and Yon

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Week 48 of 2023

Greetings all

We’re basically only a week away from the Grand Opening!

If you want to come join us, the ribbon-cutting from the Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for 1pm. Also, there’ll be cookies at about that time. Or if you prefer pizza and no ceremony, come later in the day.

I spent much of this week going hither and yon spreading flyers around the local area.  For as exhausting a task as it is to go into every place I could find, I did find some interesting places. There’s place with tea, spices, and interesting stuff in Kiowa, a cool antique place with some fascinating sports memorabilia in Medicine Lodge, and a fun bakery/craft food store in Harper.

Also, we got our signs today. Install next week, and I can’t wait to show them off.

On the writing side, I made progress on a short story that’s due at the end of the month. I’m at about 6500 words on it, so it’s close.

However, my big project this week is reading through all the short stories we got for the Paladins of Valor open call. I have to say, this is probably going to be my toughest choice. There are so many good stories this time. It’s a good problem to have, but it’ll be a challenge.

With that, I better get to reading, or in this case, re-reading so I can weigh my choices.

What I’m Listening To

Jonathan Creek, another BBC mystery show. It’s more quirky than several.

Quote of the Week

“Across the channel was Ford Island and Battleship Row, containing the Arizona, Oklahoma, Maryland, Tennessee, all flaming, sinking wrecks. Ahead of us was the Oglala, sunk. Astern of us the cruiser Anchorage was not quite as bad off, but the Helena, the Honolulu, Raleigh and many supply and auxiliary vessels were afire and severely damaged.”
– Adrian Marks, aboard the USS Sacramento, in Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941

New Mythology Works in Progress

Submissions are in for the 2024 FantaSci Short Story Contest. Announcements coming soon!

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

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

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week we have Tentacles of the Dominion, the third book in D.T. Read’s The Sergey Chronicles. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CP89BH2B/.

Your pre-release this week is Aphrodite of Luna by John Siers, a Lunar Free State novel. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CPL9YVRN.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 362.8

Updated Word Count: 372,064

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

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: A Left Turn At Albuquerque

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Week 33 of 2023

Greetings all

Well, I made it home safely from Pennsic. However, I had to jump right back on the road up to North Dakota for some family things. Nearly 40 hours of driving in 4 days makes a tired me. There are some great things happening, though.

Thomas Guarding JJ
Thomas Guarding JJ

Check out this picture of Thomas the Cat taking care of JJ the Grandbaby. We’ve actually had an abundance of cuteness as not only is there JJ, there’s a tiny kitten my sweetie rescued bumbling around.

I haven’t done much work this week, for reasons not excuses, but I can’t complain about all the cuteness.

Also, there’s so much going on with stuff already in progress, I barely have time to breath. First, it’s been a month since A Hope In Hell came out. This is book 3 in Christopher G. Nuttall’s excellent Heirs of Cataclysm trilogy. It’s been a great honor to be a part of this and you can see why by getting it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CBDGZ7D6/.

A Lake Most Deep is only a couple of weeks old and I’m very pleased with the release. Here’s one of my favorite reviews on the book so far: jimbossffreviews.blogspot.com/2023/08/rob-howells-lake-most-deep.html. Thanks to Jim for such an in-depth review.

Get A Lake Most Deep here: amazon.com/dp/B0CCKVLPBL.

The Eyes of a Doll
The Eyes of a Doll

I did a cover reveal of The Eyes of a Doll last week, but here it is again. It comes out on the 29th, so in less than two weeks.

In this one, Edward just has to retrieve a girl’s doll lost at a picnic. What could go wrong?

But wait, there’s more. I was accepted to an anthology of horror coming out around Halloween. Expect a cool cover reveal in a few weeks. My contribution is literally the first story I ever wrote. Man, did I cringe when I edited it.

And there’s still more!

Imagine That!
Imagine That!

Imagine That!, a new Postcards anthology following Imaginarium, comes out tomorrow. Again, I’m honored the folks at Raconteur Press chose my story and I think you’ll all like it.

After we get all the family stuff dealt with, I’m looking forward to an extended period of little travel. It’s time to start settling down after a really busy past few months.

What I’m Listening To

The baby and the kitten playing together. Pretty darn cool, if you ask me.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Brian Aldiss, who has a quote that really resonates with me. I’ve certainly never fit into the system.

 Why had I become a writer in the first place? Because I wasn’t fit for society; I didn’t fit into the system.
– Brian Aldiss

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 2 of 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 (80,232)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

More MilSF awesomeness! Stand on Xanadu, book 9 in John E. Siers’ amazing Lunar Free State series, is out. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CF441GQ7.

Your pre-release this week is the heart-pounding conclusion to TimTaylor’s Chimera Company series, The Last Redoubt.  Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CFTDXCTP.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 356.0

Updated Word Count: 209,354

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: The Flip Side

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Week 27 of 2022

Greetings all

Wow, what a great couple of weeks it’s been since my last update.

First, it’s official. The marriage license arrived today. The wedding was as fun and exciting as something completely unrehearsed ought to be. We laughed a lot, our friends had a great time, and we sang songs until late at night. And we drank a lot of Tullamore Dew during the ceremony. Exactly what we wanted.

If you want to watch the wedding, it’s up on the CKP YouTube channel at: youtube.com/watch?v=yJLHL9_IKZY.

I had a great time at Lilies in general, not just the wedding. I sold more than expected, which is nice. I got to write the scroll text for a dear friend’s knighting and got to speak at another friend’s Laureling ceremony. Best of all, I got to sit and chat with friends I’ve missed for for far too long.

I want to thank Duncan for officiating, Fernando for being my best man, Hrodir for serving as Giulia’s beast of honor, my mom for giving me away, and Conna for providing the music. And, of course, thanks to all those who joined either at site or online.

The past couple of weeks has included a bunch of editing. We’ve been working hard and heavy on Embers & Ash with Marie Whittaker, which will be the next Eldros Legacy novel.

The next EL novel after The Forgotten King by Mark Stallings, I mean. This is coming out on the 12th of July, and is the first novel set on Drakanon. His continent, as you might guess, centers on dragons. And this story is filled with action and a great dungeon crawl.

Along the way, I’ve been putting together the release schedule for the fall. It’s huge. I’ll list that all out next week, and let me just say, it’s gonna have a bunch of great stuff. It includes a bunch of stuff I’ve been working on that I haven’t been ready to announce… until now.

Exciting times here for sure.

What I’m Listening To

Since I pulled up the link to paste it up above, I’m actually watching our wedding ceremony.

Quote of the Week

Today’s an interesting day for birthdays. Mike Tyson, Phil Anselmo, and Vincent D’Onofrio are all born on June 30th. I chose another who’s celebrating today, one of my favorite guitarists, Yngwie Malmsteen because this is how I’ve approached my writing career.

“The simple truth is that in order to become good, you have to be obsessed. You have to put in an awful lot of time and hard work and couple that with desire and unflagging perseverance.”
– Yngwie Malmsteen
Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes an interview with the mighty Chris Kennedy himself.

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 latest release is Lorelle of the Dark by Todd Fahnestock.

The Forgotten King by Mark Stallings is out on the 12th of July!

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 Embers & Ash, the 7th novel in the Eldros Legacy.

Giveaways
Free Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books
Free Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books
Rob’s Works in Progress
  • Sowing Spring’s Wrath (xx)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (12,390)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
Upcoming Events
  • Pennsic, 29 July – 14 August, Cooper’s Lake Campground, PA, pennsicwar.org/
  • FenCon, 16-18 September, Irving, TX, fencon.org/
New Releases

More from John Siers in his terrific Lunar Free State series this week. It’s The Gathering Storm and it’s the 7th in this series already. Great stuff.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 323.8

Updated Word Count: 144,304

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: Happy St. Paddy’s

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Week 12 of 2022

Greetings all

Editor’s Note: Hey, look, I finally changed the year to 2022! Go me! And thanks to all of you who pointed that out last week. I do appreciate it. Clearly I need all the help I can get.

I hope everyone is having fun wearing the green (or the orange as the case may be). May the road rise up to meet you and also all the other fun Irish blessings upon you on this day.

The Irish are also really good at curses. Check out the lyrics of Nell Flaherty’s Drake, which is a Irish traditional song here: bellsirishlyrics.com/nell-flahertys-drake.html. The fun part of that song is that it’s supposed to refer to Robert Emmet, and the curses in that song could be sung in different order to form a code. Of course, like I say, they’re just brilliant fun.

“That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty’s drake!”

Fun that is, unless the eel and trout are biting on your snout.

A good week of work here. Making real progress with The Door Into Winter. I’m at that stage where every writing session is productive because I’m on the downhill part. I did a bunch of bediting the past couple of days, too, and it’s amazing how much that finds.

Also did two more interviews of authors in Keen Edge of Valor:
D.J. Butler: robhowell.org/blog/?p=2021
Mark Wandrey: robhowell.org/blog/?p=1542

Deadly Fortune went off to our Advance Reader Team this week. If you’re on the team and didn’t receive it, let me know. If you want to be on future advance teams, send me an email.

I also made big progress with A Sundered Throne. This is a new series by Philippa Werner, who’s an amazing writer. You’re going to love this.

What I’m Listening To

Car tire informercials. It’s efficient to work while waiting for an oil change, but it sure lacks of certain amenities.

Quote of the Week

The interwebz tell me that St. Patrick said this, so it must be true, right? Well, even if he didn’t, this is good advice.

“Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
– St. Patrick

Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes a interview with Joe DeLeone, especially focusing on spring football.

Stay tuned this weekend for another episode.

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+.

Deadly Fortune by Aaron Rosenberg is coming on the 5th of April

Currently available:

Eldros Legacy Archives: 813 entries

New Mythology Works in Progress

We have no current open anthology calls but will have a new one announced at FantaSci.

I’m currently working on A Sundered Throne by Philippa Werner, with a number of other projects about to get going.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • The Door Into Winter (96,541)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • FMU (721)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

This week we have Season of the Wolf, Book 6! of the Lunar Free State series by John Siers. You can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B09V47ZGG1.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 322.6

Updated Word Count: 24,717

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: Seeds are Sown

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Week 1 of 2022

Greetings all

Seeds of Dominion is out! This is the second Eldros Legacy novel and it’s by Quincy J. Allen. It covers events in Daemanon, the continent that Quincy created, and it stars Rellen of Corsia, who has already appeared in a couple of anthologies, When Valor Must Hold and Songs of Valor.

In my opinion, this is the best thing Quincy’s ever written, and if you’ve read his other stuff, you know that’s saying something.

You may have noticed that Seeds of Dominion is Book One of the Legacy of Deceit while Khyven the Unkillable Book One of the Legacy of Shadows. There are five continents on Eldros, and each of the five continents have their stories to tell at the start. If you would like an analogy, think of Marvel with separate stories involving Ironman, Hulk, Thor, and all the others.

We did this, by the way, not simply because the stories demand it, but also because when we really get going, we want to make sure readers know in what order to read all the books.

Major progress this week in The Keen Edge of Valor. I’ll be announcing the list of authors at Chattacon next week in the Chris Kennedy Publishing Year Ahead panel, which happens on Saturday at noon. I’ll post that list the week after.

I will say that I’m blessed to get to work with some of the best in the business.

I made some progress in The Door Into Winter, though I’ll freely admit I didn’t do as much over the holiday weekend as I should have. We got a new reclining loveseat this past weekend. There were bowl games, including the CFP semifinals, plus the NFL. I may have gotten distracted.

I also did my 2021 AAR, which you can find here: robhowell.org/blog/?p=2523.

Next week will be a little off-kilter, in terms of posting online because, as I mentioned, I’m going to Chattacon. I have a great schedule lined up, which I’ll post next Thursday.

What I’m Listening To

Xanadu by Rush. Because of course I am.

Quote of the Week

Like us all, I’m mourning the passing of Betty White. This is, I think, a fitting quote on the topic.

“People have told me, ‘Betty, Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with old friends.’ At my age, if I wanted to keep in touch with old friends, I’d need a Ouija board.”
– Betty White

Now where’s my Ouija board. “Hey, Betty, I need some help…”

Dudes In Hyperspace

Follow the Dudes In Hyperspace here:
https://www.sharkflight.com/dudes/

The latest show is our holiday episode and includes an interview with a member of the USO.

Cool Stuff In Eldros Legacy
Seeds of Dominion
Seeds of Dominion

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

Seeds of Dominion is out! You can get it here:amazon.com/dp/B09PK1QYDY.

Don’t forget to leave reviews and like the reviews that you found helpful.

If you haven’t already, please do the same for Todd Fahnestock’s Khyven the Unkillable, which is here: amazon.co.uk/dp/B09N288DCC.

New Mythology Works in Progress

We have no current open anthology calls but will have a new one in January.

I’m currently working on The Keen Edge of Valor, which will come out at FantaSci. I’ll make the full announcement of the author list at Chattacon.

Giveaways
Adventure-Action-Intrigue

Adventure-Action-Intrigue

storyoriginapp.com/bundles/4b5c160a-59c8-11ec-935c-77d1c581f5d8

Free Fantasy and Science Fiction
Free Fantasy and Science Fiction

Free Fantasy and Science Fiction

storyoriginapp.com/bundles/d3f41fc2-538c-11ec-949a-23f5e84cb858

The Neighbor You Don't Know
The Neighbor You Don’t Know

And we’re trying something new here. This is a preview of The Neighbor You Don’t Know, by Shane Shepard. You can find it here: storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/da9e03f0-1bbb-11ec-92e4-7fd845c8a81b

If you get a chance, please go take a look. He’s doing me the kindness of advertising one of my own stories.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • The Door Into Winter (70,243)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

Seeds of Dominion is out! You can get it here:amazon.com/dp/B09PK1QYDY. The second novel in the Eldros Legacy.

Also out is the next Lunar Free State book, The Next Crusade, by John Siers. You can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B09PD8SCCH

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 329.6 (Not a typo, been under 330 all week. W0000tttt)

Updated Word Count: 1,954

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

Uncategorized

Rob’s Update: That’s More Like It

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Week 45 of 2021

Greetings all

It’s been a great first week since the release of Talons & Talismans II.

As many of you know, I’m a Cowboys fan. That beatdown of the Falcons was a nice change from the putrid showing against the Broncos. This weekend will be a lot of fun, I think, as the Cowboys are actually in KC, where I live, for what promises to be a heck of a game.

It’s not the only thing that went well. I put out nearly 12000 words in The Door Into Winter, and I’ve got a bunch more poised to go. I’m over 42,000 now.

Oh, and I’ve been ecstatic at the reaction to both Talons & Talismans anthologies. Not to mention the response to The House Between Worlds by Jon R. Osborne. Thanks to all the readers.

This upcoming week is a bunch more work on The Door Into Winter, along with some on my next Nick Patara, PI story and maybe even another short story.

Also, as we get close to Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I want to say thanks to all of my readers. I’m doing that by getting you more freebies than ever. Eight collections of free stories this week, so hopefully you all find something cool to read after finishing Talons & Talismans II.

What I’m Listening To

Thursday Night Football. I hate to tell people, but this New England team is actually really good. I think they have a 50/50 shot to win that division, though it’s clear to me the Bills are the better team and still my prediction for the team to come out of the AFC.

Quote of the Week

Today is Alan Dean Foster’s birthday. He’s one of the guys I grew up with. Today’s quote is just another example of someone speaking the truth.

“The thing all writers do best is find ways to avoid writing.”
– Alan Dean Foster

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+.

Talons & Talismans II has 8 Eldros Legacy stories.  You can get it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L44T5XW.

Khyven the Unkillable is out on the 7th of the December, then Seeds of Dominion 4th of January.

New Mythology Works in Progress

Current open anthology calls:

I’m currently working on

Giveaways

Eight this week! Have fun all. +

Autumn Free Book Collection
Autumn Free Book Collection

Autumn Free Book Collection

https://books.bookfunnel.com/readfreefantasyscifibooks/oo8gx0bssu

Strange Worlds
Strange Worlds

Strange Worlds

https://storyoriginapp.com/bundles/7319ddea-1e44-11ec-87f8-2772589d075d?bundleLinkId=S1SIlEd

Epic Magic and Stellar Sorcery
Epic Magic and Stellar Sorcery

Epic Magic and Stellar Sorcery

https://storyoriginapp.com/bundles/c4f2b4ee-b1c9-11eb-93e7-5304ae008eb6?bundleLinkId=UzEAnqn

Deadly Mystery, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
Deadly Mystery, Fantasy, and Science Fiction

Deadly Mystery, Fantasy, and Science Fiction

https://storyoriginapp.com/bundles/b96f9b76-1e45-11ec-be9a-e75714b75a08

The Ultimate Sci-Fi Giveaway
The Ultimate Sci-Fi Giveaway

The Ultimate Sci-Fi Giveaway

https://storyoriginapp.com/bundles/48f0cfe8-38f1-11ec-866e-c72d627fb1bb

Grateful Promotion
Grateful Promotion

Grateful Promotion

https://books.bookfunnel.com/grateful_for_2ndchances_giveaway/ws1j1i4y2s

Multi-Genre Freebies
Multi-Genre Freebies

Multi-Genre Freebies

https://books.bookfunnel.com/grateful_for_2ndchances_giveaway/ws1j1i4y2s

Free Book Bonanza
Free Book Bonanza

Free Book Bonanza

sffbookbonanza.com/free-books-nov-2021

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • The Door Into Winter (42,153)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

Talons & Talismans II still counts as a new release, at least in my world.  You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L44T5XW.

The other new release this week from CKP is In the Service of Luna by John E. Siers. This is the 4th book in his Luna Free State series and you can get it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LH9KYRZ.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 334.0

Updated Word Count: 323,747

Eldros Legacy Archives: 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: 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

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Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: On the Emerald Coast

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Week 24 of 2021

Greetings all

Here’s my update from last week, now that I have time to breathe. I’m sitting at Juana’s Pagodas in Navarre Beach, Florida. I’ve had worse views as write.

I’ve been working on a story for Kevin Steverson’s Salvage Title universe. This is probably the most whimsical story I’ve ever written and it’s mostly done.

Of course, the reason I’m writing last week’s update on a Monday is things have been wonderfully awesome and crazy in my world. This weekend was ConFinement in Nashville. That went very well, I sold lots, but more importantly, I loved feeding off the enthusiasm so many writers have for New Mythology Press.

In truth, that’s been the best part of taking this position. The energy thrown my way from fans and writers has been amazing. I can’t wait to have some of this stuff turn into fruition to reward everyone.

Of course, my big thing last week is the release of The Ravening of Wolves. The first week has gone very well. In fact, I hit 40 reviews and ratings today. 40! That seems really fast to me. Thanks to all who’ve read and reviewed. I really appreciate it.

If you haven’t read it, by the way, it’s here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097C3BP3F.

Why am I sitting at a bar in Florida, you ask? It’s because tomorrow I go to the Lie’brary at Beck for Lasers and Lagers. Thanks to Ian J. Malone for organizing this and I’m glad it worked out that I could come. I’ll be posting from there tomorrow. Also, we’ll do our Dudes in Hyperspace podcast from there, so expect some special awesomeness.

But for now, I’d better write.

What I’m Listening To

Songs they’re playing overhead. Been a nice mix, but of course, there’s Jimmy Buffett so that has to be the quote of the week.

Quote of the Week

And of course, that means I *have* to quote from Margaritaville.

I blew out my flip flop
Stepped on a pop top
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home
But there’s booze in the blender
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on
― Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville

New Mythology Works in Progress

Current open anthology calls:

As mentioned, I’ve been blown away from the response of so many with New Mythology. I got 4 new stories over the weekend, plus a couple of novel-length submissions. Can’t wait to dive into those.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • CWTAE (7,885)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • CSC (1,283)
  • MON (829)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Hey, did I mention The Ravening of Wolves? In case I didn’t, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097C3BP3F.

The reviews to John Siers’s The Moon and Beyond have suggested it’s reminiscent of Heinlein. I look forward to testing that suggestion. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097QMN7PJ and test it yourself.

Today’s Weight: 334.2

Updated Word Count: 160,689

Shijuren Wiki: 733 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

Four Horsemen Universe, Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: A Sooper-Sekrit Update

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Week 18 of 2021

Greetings all

Con season is fast approaching and I can’t wait to be in among my tribe. Last night, we recorded a Zoom panel for the Virtual LibertyCon. This one was about the Four Horsemen Universe and it was great. Really cool to be a part of that whole project.

Of course, one of the things I talked about is The Ravening of Wolves, which is scheduled for June 18. I hope to have these for the ConFinement 2.5 the week of Virtual LibertyCon. If not, I’ll have them for Armistice.

By the way, note that new addition to the schedule! Confinement 2.5 is 25-27 June in Mount Juliet, TN. More information here: https://www.confinementcon.org/.

However, the big news is FantaSci. A week from this moment I’ll be ensconced in the Raleigh-Durham airport Doubletree getting ready for an amazing weekend.

But it starts now!

Well, at 7pm Central tonight. That’s when this giveaway starts:

May Giveaway
May Giveaway

Go to http://davidjohnbutler.com/giveaways/five-books-may-giveaway/ and sign up to win all 5 of these books. Physical copies. Signed physical copies. Shipping included.

If you go to FantaSci, your chances are even higher of winning! We’re reserving two of the five winners for people who are there, to celebrate them coming and seeing Dave Butler and I person. (You foolish mortals).

Thanks to Dave Butler for organizing all this.

This week, as you can expect, has been focused on preparing for the trip. However, I’ve been plugging away at a sooper-seekrit project that I’ll have done by June 1. Then I finish a different sooper-seekrit project which will be done July 1.

But don’t worry, I’ll be posting some hints of a *third* sooper-seekrit project before any of that happens.

Lots of great stuff happening in Rob-land, even if I have to keep it all somewhat vague at the moment.

What I’m Listening To

Blood of Bannockburn by Sabaton. This is one of my songs I listen to when I’m walking. It’s impossible not to go fast with this song.

Quote of the Week

Today is Roger Zelazny’s birthday. I can’t let that pass without this quote. I may read more from e-books than physical ones these days, but I, too, feel right when I’m surrounded by books.

I like libraries. It makes me feel comfortable and secure to have walls of words, beautiful and wise, all around me. I always feel better when I can see that there is something to hold back the shadows.
― Roger Zelazny, Nine Princes of Amber

New Mythology Works in Progress

Open call for the next New Mythology Anthology. We’ll take the top four submissions.

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.

Rob’s Works in Progress

  • CWTAE (1,701)
  • OPP (4,541)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • Cynewulf (8,642)
  • Gato (2,312)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week’s new release is The Dragons of Styx, book 4 in the Hit World series, by John Siers. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0946BJTD7.

Oh, and for y’all audiophiles, James Chandler’s They Call Me Princess is about to come out on Audible. This is book 8 in the Fallen World series. You can find the pre-release here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0947CTCM7.

Today’s Weight: 338.8

Updated Word Count: 116,837

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