Tag Archives: Where Now the Rider

Rob’s Update: Missing FactoryCon

Week 42 of 2023

Greetings all

Sigh. A good chunk of my writing buddies are in North Carolina today having fun at FactoryCon. With the move and setting up the stores, it wasn’t in the cards this year. Frankly, I haven’t seen them since LibertyCon, and that’s far too long. I’ll get to see a goodly number at 20Books Vegas, and that will be wonderful, but that’s several weeks away.

The EdwardsagaI’ve still been enjoying the release of Where Now the Rider. Reviews are excellent. Frankly reviews of the whole Firehall Sagas series have been great, and I appreciate it. Get all 3 books here: amazon.com/dp/B0CCKWZKYQ.

This has been a week of various projects. We buy half a cow each year from friends in Iowa. That’s now a two-day trip, so all I could do is some bediting for work. Also this week was Anthony Fall Fest. Makes it hard to make a lot of progress.

However, I did get a few words written along with a bunch of editing on the Ruriksaga. This has been rough sledding, in part because of fatigue, but it’s getting there. Also this week, I started editing I Am a Wondrous Thing.

I got feedback on my sooper-sekrit project and it was very positive. I’ll talk about it when I can, but they really liked the first part.

We also made a bunch of progress on the building. We’re setting November 15th as a tentative opening date. There’ll still be a bunch to do to improve things, but we’ll have stock, working POS systems, and our store areas are looking great.

All in all, it’s one of those weeks where I probably got a lot done, but it didn’t feel like it. Combine that with a long period without a break, and missing my friends, I’ve been a bit down.

But next week will be good. We’ll finish the apartment and that’s a huge load off my brain. I’ll start putting in inventory, ,which will make the shop much more real, and we’ll have the Man Cave going.

But for now, you guys have fun at FactoryCon!

What I’m Listening To

A pretty bland game between the Saints and the Jaguars. I should probably be watching Texas play Houston, but I get so stressed, I decided to let it go for a while. Plus, my superstition is big time games go better if I don’t watch them. It’s not true of course, but sometimes it’s what I do.

Happenings in Anthony

We’ve settled on Nobody of Consequence for our trivia team name. We really need people who know movies and music, because those two categories kill us. We do great on the other ones, but it’s tough when you’re dropping 20% of the possible points off the top.

This week is the town clean up. I’ll be dropping off chairs and some other stuff to clear up the place.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthdays to L.E. Modesitt, Jr. and John le Carré. Heck of a lot of great stories come from this day.

Anyway, here’s a quote from le Carré about how writers and spies are alike.

 A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it.
– John le Carré

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 (50,851)
  • 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.

New author alert! Final Assembly by Dennis M. Myers, the first book in his Rise of the Automated Empire series, is set in a post-scarcity society on the moon in the distant future, where no one lacks for anything, and everyone gets along. Right? Not so fast… Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CKVFR1PL.

Your pre-release this week is 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.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 357.8

Updated Word Count: Still need to do an accounting

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

Rob’s Update: My Goodness

Week 41 of 2023

Greetings all

My goodness, what a week! Around 7,000 new words in a number of projects, plus so much else going on.

The EdwardsagaI got some great feedback on Where Now the Rider. Check out this review: “I shouldn’t have started this book at 2230. I should have known better. I do know better. All three of these have done violence to my sleep, and I did it willingly. I look forward to another.”– Greg Gagnon, KU Reader.

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

But wait, there’s more!

13 Stories of Horror
13 Stories of Horror

The first story I ever wrote was in 1997 and it was done only to fill a quire in the program for Neocon 8. It was, at the time, wretched and required a goodly amount of hubris to put it there.

Still, it filled the quire almost exactly and now that it’s been edited after all this experience, I’m quite pleased with it. Thanks to Nick Steverson and Marisa Wolf for including it in Thirteen Stories of Horror, which comes out tomorrow!

Stay tuned tomorrow for both the release link and details of a fun podcast with a bunch of the authors on Saturday evening at 7pm Central.

I’ll be there for part of it, but I’m going to be pretty busy on Saturday. It’s Anthony’s Fall Fest and I’ll have a booth in front of Pack N’Flavor restaurant. Come get books from me and some of the great cookies they sell there.

We made huge progress on our personal library this week, which is basically a long hallway extending from my den, which is behind my desk in the bookstore. I also got a big step up on the bookstore layout, plus put up new lights in the store. I’m making progress actually putting books on shelves. The vast majority of them are in stacks of their categories. Next week will bring a bunch of labels, more organization, and my checkout counter.

Oh, and stay tuned for cool new logos coming next week.

We’re starting to get a whole bunch of things in their actual place!

Oh, and we have a new assistant.

Bella
Bella

What I’m Listening To

The Chiefs beating up on Denver. Man, the Broncos simply aren’t a good offense. I don’t know what their overall problem is, as I don’t really study them, but they’re just not good.

Happenings in Anthony

Fall Fest 2023
Fall Fest 2023

Anthony Fall Fest! Click the thumbnail for the larger image.

Well, Team Nobody of Consequence didn’t, quite, defend their title at trivia last night. We were just too far behind after the music and entertainment categories. However, we almost made a miracle comeback, running the entire last category and getting a full 16 points. Lost by 2, 37 to 35. We’ll get ’em next week.

Quote of the Week

On this day, in 322, Demosthenes died. Demosthenes was one of the world’s greatest orators. I don’t have time here to give more than a quote, be he’s well worth looking into.

And, of course, you can read Jack McDevitt’s excellent A Talent for War to get a perspective on Demosthenes.

In any case, this is perhaps the most true quote I’ve ever posted, and something we all have to work against.

Nothing is easier than self-deceit.
– Demosthenes

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:

Myriad am I     Molded for memories

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 (50,266)
  • The Seven (13,766)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week is a new 4HU novel. It’s Gunpowder Geishas by Carolyn Kay. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CKF8BP29.

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

Your pre-release this week is a new series from a new author! It’s Final Assembly by Dennis M. Myers, the first book in his Rise of the Automated Empire series. This series is set in a post-scarcity society on the moon in the distant future, where no one lacks for anything, and everyone gets along. Right? Not so fast… Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CKVFR1PL.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 355.8

Updated Word Count: Did too much to do that full accounting, but will try to do so next week.

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

Rob’s Update: Over the Hump

Week 38 of 2023

Greetings all

Another productive week! Almost ready to send Farewell, My Ugly to the editor. Soooo  close.

Where Now the Rider
Where Now the Rider

First, I’m really excited about Where Now the Rider. It comes out on October 3rd, and is the 3rd of the Edward novels. In this one, Edward fulfills a promise made in A Lake Most Deep. Unfortunately, that promise involves asking questions most everyone thinks are better left forgotten. Edward ends up facing a foe who’s been plotting against Edward for far too long.

The ARC went out to the advance team this week, so if you’re on the team, check your inboxes. If you’re not on the advance team, but want to read new stuff before anyone else, drop me a line.

This is one of those “negative” writing weeks, in that I ended up with less words. However, somewhere around 85% of the story is polished so I’m getting there. Today, for example, I did my “that” search. I eliminate as many “thats” as I can, which ends up getting rid of a whole bunch of wasted verbiage. I did that for a couple other phrases/words that often just clog up the reading.

This is also the part where I’m starting to really love the story. I start with a cool idea, then I get to about 70k, and things get slow and boggy. Frustration sets in a bit as it’s tough. Then I get over the hump, and the story pops of the page again.

I’m at that point, which is always a great feeling.

Also close is the layout of the bookstore. By this time next week, I should have all the shelves constructed and start sorting books by category. Hopefully, next week, we’ll have a bunch of the layout of the quilt shop done. Also, might have our POS computers up.

What we did finish is the big multi-purpose room floor. It looks good. I’ll have pictures next week after we have the lighting redone. It has a dropped ceiling and we’re putting in 2x2ft LED panels that are really nice. We also put these in the AirBNB.

We aim to have the AirBNB ready at some point in October. We’ll be painting it next week, and might even have part of the floor done there too.

Progress, progress, progress.

What I’m Listening To

49ers v. Giants. Right now, the step-spawn is yelling at the TV.

Happenings in Anthony

I’m starting a new category this week, and that’s a local report from Anthony, KS.

We’ve started going to the Idle Hour’s Wednesday night trivia and half-price wings. Our name last week was, “We Don’t Have One.” This week it’s “We Still Don’t Know.” We’re doing okay, though it’s just the two of us and we have no clue about popular music. If you know popular stuff, come join us!

Speaking of trivia night, the city is hosting a trivia night on November 4th as a fundraiser. More details next week.

Quote of the Week

Today is Bill Murray’s birthday, and that’s a fact, Jack!

Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.
– Bill Murray

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 gave birth to an age in elementary fashion

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 (48,341)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (92,450)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

Book 4 of Kevin Ikenberry’s Guardian Covenant series is out. It’s entitled Volunteer Fury and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CHZ14TWK.

The Eyes of a Doll is live! Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CGMV3B91.

Your pre-release this week is D.T. Read’s Ganwold’s Child. This is not the next book in her excellent Seventh Shaman series, but is actually book one in the Sergey Chronicles. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CJDLJ4H2.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 351.6

Updated Word Count: 212,924

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

Rob’s Update: What the World Kneeds Now

Week 36 of 2023

Greetings all

At least, what the Rob kneeds now. He needs to not hurt his knee and then drive over 2000 miles over a weekend. Sadly, that’s exactly what Rob did this past weekend. Hard to have an especially productive week when you lose 4 full days between the trip and the recovery.

The Eyes of a Doll
The Eyes of a Doll

Still, I did get some writing done. I got a couple thousand written on Farewell, My Ugly plus about 1500 on a short story I’ve wanted to write for a while.

I want to thank all of those who are part of New Mythology’s ARC team. I say it sometimes, but not enough. They do a great job helping up have great releases. I especially want to thank them for all the help getting The Eyes of a Doll released. You can get that here: amazon.com/dp/B0CGMV3B91.

We could use a few more on our ARC team, though, so if you’re interested in contributing to what we’re building, hit me up. You get to read cool stuff and be part of the magic.

I did a goodly amount of work on this house this week too. We’re ticking off things, despite the normal challenges of DIY stuff. By the end of next week, we’ll be kicking it into hyperdrive organizing the stores. I’ll have shelves. We’ll have storage. Exciting times.

Also next week, we’ll be ramping up for the release of Where Now the Rider, book 3 of the Firehall Sagas. Edward’s back and this time has to fulfill a promise he made in A Lake Most Deep, despite the fact that Zupan Vukasin really doesn’t want to see that happen.

Expect a cover reveal next week, too.

Also coming soon is an announcement about an anthology that includes, quite literally, the first story I ever wrote. It goes back to 1997, long before I thought I’d ever really write for a career.

For now, I’m going back to work.

What I’m Listening To

The Chiefs v. the Lions. The NFL is back, and I’m here for it.

Quote of the Week

One of my favorite songs to sing in the SCA is Conn MacNeil’s Crusader’s Song. Today happens to be the anniversary of the Battle of Arsuof, which is more than enough excuse for me to quote from that song.

“At Arsouf on the coastline we met with the Paynim,
We won the battle, though many men fell,
And one was a Baron with lands that need tending,
Now they are mine, and I’ll tend them well.”
– Conn MacNeill, Crusader’s Song.

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 gave birth to an age     in elementary fashion

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

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 (85,012)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

And more in the high-intensity Abner Fortis, ISMC series from P.A. Piatt. This time it’s Peace Dividend and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CGXL8JYX.

This week’s pre-release is Nic Plume’s Tinaree: Tempered by Blood. This is book 3 in her Shadows of Peace series and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CHDLXFLB.

The Eyes of a Doll is live! Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CGMV3B91.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 352.0

Updated Word Count: 211,456

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

Rob’s Update: Madness Recovery Program

Week 32 of 2023

Greetings all

We're MAAAADDDD!!!!
We’re MAAAADDDD!!!!

It’s the 2nd Thursday of Pennsic and that means one thing: It’s the day after Moonlight Madness, which means everything is slow in the merchant area.

Moonlight Madness is as much roaming around with friends in the merchant area as it is a shopping time. We had a great evening, with a lot of traffic interested in our vine-ripened, organic, dolphin-safe madness, so it was a lot of fun.

Overall, Pennsic has been incredibly busy. My writing output is nowhere near what I expected, but that’s because we’ve sold way more than ever. In fact, on Monday, we’d sold more than we had at any previous Pennsic. There were several irregular expenses for this Pennsic having to do with the new trailer and other such things so I hoped to break even. We did way better than that.

I got 20 copies of A Lake Most Deep and I sold them. In fact, I had people coming up asking for The Eyes of a Doll. And Where Now the Rider. So all that is exciting.

That being said, I did make some progress on Farewell, My Ugly. I got through an editing pass to catch up with where I’d lost track during the move, and I added a number of scenes to conclude various threads. I’d hoped to be in the 90s by the end of the week, but the 80s with a lot of sales will have to do.

I also had quite a bit of interest in Rob’s Riddles. Obviously, more subscribers there would be very nice.

I entitled this Madness Recovery Program, but the truth is there’s so much left to do before leaving, that program will have to start when we get home. We have the kingdom party tonight then the long process of packing out. I should be on the road Saturday morning and it’ll be good to get back to the kitties.

With that, I better take care of the customers coming into my store.

What I’m Listening To

Conversations around the merchant area, like last week. It’s a beautiful day here and people are strolling about enjoying the last couple of days of Pennsic. A pair of friends are warping the last two looms I have for sale, and they’re talking weaving stuff that is way too complicated for me.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull! That’s one of my favorite bands ever, which is probably not a real surprise.

This quote is from Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day, which is in my top 10 songs of all time.

“You were bred for humanity and sold to society.
One day you’ll wake up in the present day,
a million generations removed from the expectations
of being who you really want to be.”
– Jethro Tull, Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day

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

Book 9 in Chris Kennedy and J.N. Chaney’s Uplink Squadron MilSF series is out! This one is Uplink Squadron: To Rule in Heaven and you can get it here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0C6L99R43.

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

Your pre-release this week is more MilSF awesomeness! It’s Stand on Xanadu, book 9 in John E. Siers’ amazing Lunar Free State series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CF441GQ7.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 352.0

Updated Word Count: 208,641

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

Rob’s Update: Clearing Hurdles

Week 28 of 2023

Greetings all

A Hope In Hell
A Hope In Hell

This was a week of clearing hurdles related to the move. Most particularly, the old house closed so we can get seriously into the process of setting up the new stores. Expect a bunch of updates after Pennsic.

This was also a release week! A Hope in Hell, the thrilling conclusion to Christopher G. Nuttall’s Heirs of Cataclysm trilogy, came out on Tuesday. From my perspective, it was amazing to watch him bring it all together, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.

So much going on in the Firehall Sagas. A Lake Most Deep comes out on the 25th. Find out why Glen Cook called it a “Damn fine read.”

Its sequel, The Eyes of a Doll, is back from the proofer and the third one, Where Now the Rider, is going to the proofer next week.

H.P. Holo invited me to join her on her podcast on July 22nd. We’ll be talking about A Lake Most Deep and whatever else comes to mind. If you haven’t seen her stuff before, you should check her out. She’s a rock star, as is Jacob, her husband.

H.P. Holo Q&A
H.P. Holo Q&A

And look at the graphic she made for this episode! And here’s the link if you want get updates on Facebook: facebook.com/events/234711226078834.

On the 27th, I’m scheduled to join Blasters & Blades again. That’s a great podcast, so if you’re not following them already, check them out here: youtube.com/c/BlastersandBladesPodcast.

Hopefully, I’ll be on a couple other podcasts in the next month or so.

I also did some writing this week! Go me! I got about a thousand done in Farewell, My Ugly and I sent in a short story this weekend. I’d hoped to get more done, but that’ll happen next week. I’m aiming to get a full draft of Farewell done by the end of August.

I also did a bunch of work on a sooper-sekrit fun thing for the Firehall Sagas.

So, all in all, despite the fact that I’ve had a bunch of things related to the move this week, it was pretty productive. A bunch of hurdles cleared.

What I’m Listening To

We finished Morse and on to Endeavor.

Quote of the Week

Happy Birthday to Harrison Ford, so let’s pick a Han Solo quote.

“It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.”
– Han Solo

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:

Three is a magic number But thrice ten is mine

Latest Snippet: Chapter 2 of Shadow, Ash, and Prophecy

New Mythology Works in Progress

Current Schedule of New Mythology Press
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)
  • OG (2,379)
  • Hyarkeen (2,991)
  • Farewell, My Ugly (74,921)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

More Abner Fortis, ISMC! Harvest, book 8 in P.A. Piatt’s excellent space marine series is out! Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0C1RQ415L.

A Hope in Hell by Christopher G. Nuttall, the conclusion to his Heirs of Cataclysm trilogy, came out on Tuesday! It’s available here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0CBDGZ7D6.

Your pre-release this week is In Isolation from Purpose, book 3 of C.S. Ferguson’s Transhuman War series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CBSQFMJP.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 352.8

Updated Word Count: 205,566

Firehall Sagas Archives: 742 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

Rob’s Update: Living in the Kingdom

Week 7 of 2023

Greetings all

Things got loud in my neck of the woods Sunday night. Congratulations to Chiefs Kingdom for winning the Super Bowl, and thank goodness it wasn’t the Eagles.

Hunting the Hart
Hunting the Hart

I have a few small details and Bonds of Valor will be done. All the proofreading, editing, and arranging is done. Just waiting on a couple of things and it’s out the door.

I also finished my edits of The Eyes of a Doll. That went to some alpha readers this week, so it’s getting closer.

I started on Where Now the Rider this week. I’m about ten percent done with it, so good progress already.

The big news this week is the upcoming release of Jon R. Osborne’s Hunting the Hart, book 5 in his excellent modern fantasy series, The Milesian Accords. This comes out on Tuesday, the 21st. The blurb, by the way, is down below in the New Mythology section.

By the way, subscribers to my Patreon have already gotten the first couple of chapters. Weeks I don’t have riddles will have chapters of upcoming works, and I don’t charge for these snippets. They’re a bonus on top of the fun riddles.

I do have some personal news, because it’s really just so me. I went to the doctor this week because I strained a ligament… in my left pinkie. Yeah, that’s exactly how I want to go on the DL. But here’s the kicker. I strained it how you’d expect, if you know me well enough. Yes, I strained it somehow while asleep.

I’m really something impressive, aren’t I? And with that, time to do some bediting. Hopefully, I don’t have to go to the doctor tomorrow.

What I’m Listening To

I’ve been enjoying Time Team of late, and in this episode, they’re looking for English Civil War artifacts. If you like archaeology, which of course I do, I suggest you watch this show.

Quote of the Week

Happy birthday to Edgar Bergen, and of course, Charlie.

Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?
– Edgar Bergen

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 live in the ground                   but my greatest is high above

Latest Snippet: Chapter 2 of Hunting the Hart, by Jon R. Osborne.

New Mythology Works in Progress

Hunting the Hart is the next new release, coming out on February 21st. 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 (58,812)
  • Rick Blaine (8,845)
  • The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)

Upcoming Events

New Releases

This week we have Apprentice to the Gods, 4th in D.T. Read’s Seventh Shaman series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BV62LJCV.

Your pre-release this week is book 8 in John E. Siers Lunar Free State series, The Never Ever War. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0BVZZGMYR.

Tracked Items

Today’s Weight: 342.0

Updated Word Count: 103,679

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

Rob’s Update: Birthday Festivities

Week 29 of 2019

Greetings all

First, the nomination period for the Dragon Awards ends tonight. Please nominate and then vote. You can do that here: http://application.dragoncon.org/dc_fan_awards_nominations.php. I obviously would love it if you voted for The Feeding of Sorrows, but more than anything I want to get people involved.

Second, since my birthday was Tuesday, I’m having a week of sales.

A Lake Most Deep: Free until the end of day tomorrow. It’s here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WYIU6OG/

The Eyes of a Doll: $2.99 for another couple of days. It’s here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018MVZFP8/

And Where Now the Rider: $2.99 for another couple of days. It’s here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071462WXM/

I’ve rewarded myself with work in the shop, though I haven’t done a ton with None Call Me Mother. Ran into another snag that I’ve spent the week clearing up.

And that’s what I’m working on this weekend as I’m mostly packed for Pennsic.

Current Playlist Song

Rush’s The Weapon. The things that we fear are weapons to be used against us.

Quote of the Week

There’s only one possible choice for a quote this week.

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
– Neil Armstrong

News and Works in Progress

  • None Call Me Mother (approx. 50,000)
  • CB (8,418)
  • AFS (2,556)

Recent Blog Posts and Wiki Additions

Upcoming Events

Spotlight

This week’s spotlight is on

Today’s Weight: 383.8

Updated Word Count: 160,781

Shijuren Wiki: 874 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
Four Horsemen Universe
Short Stories

 

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Interview: Jesse Oak Rise

Greetings all

This week’s interview is with Jesse Oak Rise, an author and videographer I met in Pittsburgh last year when I went to Confluence during the middle of Pennsic. I was struck in our conversations about how much they have studied technical details of making videos, something I know very little about and Jesse taught me about.

Interview: Jesse Oak Rise

What is your quest?

Presently I run a blog dealing with topics surrounding the trans and non-binary community, mental health, and Crohn’s Disease. In the future I have several plans for my YouTube channel, The Knighted Nerd, which are creating video reviews of trans related media as well as video game content through a trans perspective. This would include Let’s Plays of various games. Interviews with trans and non-binary community leaders. Hopefully gain interviews with politicians and political leaders. Attend trans and mental health related conferences and, hopefully, document them.

I wouldn’t say I have success. My influences, however, are as follows: Lyndsey Sickler, educator and advocate, among other things. Created and runs TransPride Pittsburgh. The late Nancy Evelyn Gold, who inspired me in the first place to learn Adobe Premiere Pro / Final Cut. Anthony Q. Artis, author of The Shut Up and Shoot Freelance Video Guide and The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It’s Like Behind the Mic by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, The Art of Voice Acting: The Craft and Business of Performing for Voiceover by James Alburger.

Also these YouTubers: Caleb Wojcik, creator of FIT Video Guy, DSLR Video Shooter, Lindsay Ellis, Chase Thomas, PushingUpRoses, MarzGurl, and, of course, Markiplier / Jacksepticeye

What is your favorite color?

I’m, by no means, a professional videographer, voice actor, or YouTuber. What I am is a person that has worn many hats.

No matter which of these you do or want to do the biggest lessons I’ve learned in all three are: Make sure your audio is on point. No $10 microphones. Go for a Blue Snowball or  Yeti. If you want to go XLR,  go for Rode Mic with a usb interface. Make sure you’re audio is shielded in some way, even if you have to build makeshift plywood walls to stick soundproofing on, it’s better than having anything under or over your voice.

Video, depending how you want to do it, look for either a quality web cam or a camcorder. If you got the bucks, look into getting a DSLR camera. Look into 3 or 4 point lighting. This will bring your video game up a notch.

If you’re going to do green screen, YouTube and your local library are your friend to learn. These are how I have learned everything I know now.

What is the average flying speed of an unladen paint brush?

What do you mean? African or European paint brush?

The biggest challenge I have has plagued me all my life: money. I don’t have the funds to do the things I want to do the things I mentioned above, much to my dismay.

What are the powers of your personal Holy Hand Grenade?

I’ve been taught all my life that I’ll never amount to anything. Over the last two and ½ decades I’ve learned that I have an innate ability to quickly learn almost any skill quickly. With this tool I know I could succeed at almost anything, if given the opportunity.

Lightning Round

  • Favorite Muppet? The mahna mahna guy
  • Crunchy or Creamy? Both at once
  • Favorite Sports Team? What’s a sports?
  • Cake or Pie? Piecake
  • Lime or Lemon? Lemon
  • Favorite Chip Dip? French onion
  • Wet or Dry? Yes.
  • Favorite Musical Performer We’ve Never Heard Of? Myself, Jesse Oak Rise.
  • Whisky or Whiskey? Jagermister
  • Favorite Superhero? Deadpool
  • Steak Temperature? 650
  • Favorite 1970s TV show? All in the Family
  • Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Fall, cause every day is Halloween
  • Favorite Pet?  Can I own Death as a pet?
  • Best Game Ever? Will it blend
  • Coffee or Tea? Tea
  • Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Yes

What question(s) would you like to ask me?

Have you thought about adding authentic transgender characters in your writings?

My Answer: Thought about it, yes? Done it? No, because it’s never been relevant to the story I’m telling. Given that I write hack and slash, swords and sorcery action novels, I generally focus on whether my characters are strong, smart, fast, tough, or wise because those things matter in a fight. Rarely does plumbing of any type affect the outcome of a fight or a story, so I don’t talk about it much. 

If it ever matters to a story, I have no problem including transgender characters. However, I’m not going to throw one in simply to throw one in. I think that sort of thing is dishonest and disrespectful if the only reason to do so is to say, “Here, look at me, I put in a transgender character, aren’t I awesome!” If and when I put a transgender character into a story, it’s because the “transgender” part matters. Otherwise, transgender people are simply “people.”

It all boils down to what makes a good story. If a character being transgender makes a better story, I’ll make that happen in a heartbeat. If it doesn’t, I already try to strip everything I can in my writing that doesn’t push the story along.

Tell me again where we can find your stuff?

I can be found at

And where can we find you?

Currently I only attend Confluence in Pittsburgh, PA

Do you have a creator biography?

Presently on my blog, which needs work


Thanks for reading. If you’re interested in any of the other interviews I’ve done, you can find them all here: https://robhowell.org/blog/?cat=326.

If you are a creator, especially an independent creator, and you want to be spotlighted in a future interview, email me at rob@robhowell.org.

Also, if you want to join my mailing list, where I’ll announce every interview, as well as what’s going on in my life, go to www.robhowell.org and fill out the form (Name and Email Address) or drop me an email and I’ll add you.

Rob’s Update: Tired Rob Is Tired

Week of 6-12 August

One of my favorite Pennsics ever comes to a close today.

The weather has been incredibly nice. Cool, with only a little rain, and yet still lots of cloud cover. The merchant booth has been profitable, productive, and fun. I’ve had a great time singing, and got to see some wonderful things given to fun people.

But at the end of two weeks, especially with packing in all sorts of stuff in the final few days, I must say I’m ready to be home.

It’s been so busy here that I’ve barely had time to write, so I’m only about 10000 words into Brief Is My Flame, but since that means more sales, I am quite pleased. I’m also pleased where the story lines are going. Yes, I’ve done more plotting than usual, but that doesn’t mean the plot is static.

As I did with Where Now the Rider, I’ll be steadily adding a few entries to the Wiki each week. I think these might be a little more revealing, though, as some of the new storylines are coming from different places. We’ll be exploring more of Svellheim, the Seven Kingdoms, the Western Isles, and the Kreisens, so we’ll all get to find out interesting stuff about those places as the plot takes me there.

I love Shijuren. It’s a fun and interesting world and there’s so much more to come.

Quote of the Week

One of my favorite aspects of Pennsic, and the SCA in general, is the opportunity to sing at bardic circles. This week’s quote comes from a Kipling poem which we have turned to song.

For we hold that in all disaster
Of shipwreck, storm, or sword,
A Man must stand by his Master
When once he has pledged his word.
– Song of the Red War Boat
, Rudyard Kipling

News and Works in Progress

  • Brief Is My Flame (About 10k)

Recent Blog Posts and Wiki Additions

Upcoming Events

Spotlight

I watched Consortium of Genius perform at ConFluence. They were a lot of fun and surprisingly metal. Most bands at SF/F cons are acoustic in nature, but these guys played their music loud and hard. I had a blast, though I think some of the other people were a bit bemused. I especially enjoyed Think Tank and Middle-earth Needs Me.

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

Currently Available Works

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