Tag Archives: Shane Shepherd

Weekly Update

Rob’s Update: Blazing Like the Sun

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Week 9 of 2021

Greetings all

This has been my best writing week in ages. I have a short story due on Monday. I’d had it laid out in my mind, and that layout was so spot on, I started this past Monday with 1000 words and four days later have 12000.

As I said, I knew the basic plot after conversations with Marisa Wolf, the editor, at Superstars. However, I didn’t entirely know the tone. Along the way, I discovered exactly what I needed.

Really pleased with this one, and I’ll give details when I can.

But that wasn’t it. I also cleaned up another bunch of The Door Into Winter, adding 3000 to it too.

That’s nearly 15000 since last Thursday. It’s been a long time since I did that.

Apparently, my time with Dudes in Hyperspace is getting some attention. I have not one, but two guest appearances on podcasts in March. One, alongside Mark Stallings, is on the 2nd with Super Geeked Up Future Shenanigans, hosted by Jeff Burns

Join us at 9pm Central next Wednesday, the 2nd, to see Mark and I in a geeky Whose Line game. Find out more, including where to watch, here: supergeekedup.com/about.html.

We’re shenaniganating!

The other is on the 29th from Kelly Colby and 20 Questions for Writers. Their twitch channel is here: twitch.tv/curseddragonship.

I also got the first 100 pages of a novel by a new writer to New Mythology, entitled A Sundered Throne by Philippa Werner.

Folks, this book is amazing. I usually don’t talk specifics about stuff this early in the process, but man, are you going to love it.

Whew! Like I said, one of the best weeks in a while. Time to go do it again.

What I’m Listening To

John Tams, Over the Hills and Far Away. This is the theme song of the BBC Sharpe series, which if you haven’t watched, is amazing. Let me put it this way, the character of Richard Sharpe is so tough, even Sean Bean doesn’t die playing him.

By the way, if you have watched the Sharpe series, John Tams portrays Rifleman Hagman, and you can hear him sing there quite often. Such a smooth voice.

Quote of the Week

Anyway, here’s a lyric from Over The Hills and Far Away.

Then fall in lads behind the drum
With colours blazing like the sun
Along the road to come what may
Over the hills and far away
– John Tams, Over The Hills and Far Away (Sharpe version)

Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes an interview with Kacey Ezell about her new book Skies to Conquer and so much more.

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 soon!

Currently available:

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 Keen Edge of Valor. Advance copies go out this weekend.

Giveaways
Free February Fantasy & SciFi
Free February Fantasy & SciFi

Free February Fantasy & SciFi

books.bookfunnel.com/freefantasyfebruary/fs3ojnjfu2

Discovering Your Neighbor
Discovering Your Neighbor

And we had so much fun exchanging stories last time, Shane Shepherd and I agreed to do it again. Here’s his story Discovering Your Neighbor.

You can find it here: https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/44be5e1a-5fa0-11ec-a777-4384157e5555.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • The Door Into Winter (78,989)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • VAL (11,957)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

We talked a ton about this novel on the Dudes in Hyperspace last week, but it’s now out. Get Kacey Ezell’s Skies to Conquer here: amazon.com/gp/product/B09QKBQGYK.

And if you haven’t read the first two in The Psyche of War series, what are you waiting for? Get all three here: amazon.com/dp/B07SZ9PY8N.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 320.6

Updated Word Count: 8,089 (March is going to be huge here)

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: The Days of High Adventure

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Week 8 of 2021

Greetings all

I’m back from an amazing Superstars Seminar. I posted a longer AAR here: robhowell.org/blog/?p=2571, but the TL:DR version is that I had a great time and leveled up.

This has been a productive week following up with a variety of things after the seminar. Lots of emails and instant messages. New plans, such as appearances on other podcasts and many new books. Most importantly, new friends and the amazing energy that brings.

When I’ve had the chance to write, I’ve made great progress in The Door Into Winter. The word count won’t reflect this, as I’m only a little more than 1000 words more than last week, but I’m still excited.

I took Jonathan Maberry’s class on pacing and I’ve been inserting some new techniques in the story. The results look very promising.

One of the main things this has done has forced me to reconsider the arrangement of chunks in the story. I’ve spent a bunch of time moving passages around to make a faster, more coherent narrative. I’m much happier with what I’ve done so far, and it’s already having some productive ripples carrying down the road.

We did another Dudes In Hyperspace podcast this week. We got Kacey Ezell back in time for her to talk about her new release, Skies to Conquer, which will come out tomorrow. I’ll have links for that next week.

We’ve had a great, energetic week on the New Mythology Discord channel. It dawns on me, I might not have mentioned it before, but here’s the invite link: discord.gg/FjdgAShBHU. We’d love to have you join us.

I probably have more to talk about, but I’m still catching up from an amazing Superstars.

What I’m Listening To

The soundtrack of Conan the Barbarian by Basil Poledouris. This is one of my favorite things to listen to when I’m writing fantasy.

Quote of the Week

Andre Norton is one of the authors I grew up reading. I can still remember the moment when Ron Thomas gave me Quag Keep, and of course there was Witch World, Star Soldiers, and so much more. Here’s a quote from her that is true for all of us.

As for courage and will – we cannot measure how much of each lies within us, we can only trust there will be sufficient to carry through trials which may lie ahead.
– Andre Norton
Dudes In Hyperspace

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

The latest show includes an interview with Kacey Ezell about her new book Skies to Conquer and so much more.

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 soon!

Currently available:

New Mythology Works in Progress

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

Keen Edge of Valor goes out to advance readers next week!

Giveaways
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Pulp
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Pulp

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Pulp

books.bookfunnel.com/sffpulpreads/jarc896qy9

Anti-Hero Giveaway
Anti-Hero Giveaway

Anti-Hero Giveaway

storyoriginapp.com/bundles/9b987604-6d96-11ec-bc15-139818e52ee1

Discovering Your Neighbor
Discovering Your Neighbor

And we had so much fun exchanging stories last time, Shane Shepherd and I agreed to do it again. Here’s his story Discovering Your Neighbor.

You can find it here: https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/44be5e1a-5fa0-11ec-a777-4384157e5555.

Rob’s Works in Progress
  • The Door Into Winter (75,934)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • CB (8,418)
  • VAL (1,052)
Upcoming Events
New Releases

This week we have the conclusion to David Hallquist’s War Angels series, entitled Seraphim. You can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B09S3FCPQ8.

Also, I’m remiss for not posting this link last week, especially since it’s a story I’ve loved for quite some time. My only excuse is I was distracted by Superstars.

In any case, here’s Sharp Steel by William Alan Webb. This is the first story in his Sharp Steel & High Adventure series, and you want to get in on this now, because there’s big things happening here, and maybe even a crossover coming down the road. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B09RVCDW2Y.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 323.6

Updated Word Count: 7,375

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: 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