Folks, were are so close to having the cover work done for SERVANT and BAD PENNY. But it’s not done yet. So we’re slipping the delivery into November. CURSE will move back to early December. We lost two months with the issues we encountered with our original art projects. This time, though, we’re going to make it. And you will be pleased with the results.
Alas, I didn’t know Bryce had posted his. Dang the omniscient glitch! Furthermore, Bryce is a local “Utard” đ
So read the very first interview on The Intelli-Gent Reviews where I reveal that it was Rudolph who really made me want to be a storyteller.
The United Authors Association is holding a fiction writing conference October 24th in Springville, Utah, and it’s free to the public!
The conference schedule has some great presentation topics on it by authors who are delighting a lot of readers as well as an editor, agent, and a magician.
I’m going to be presenting on the fundamental core of story–“Scene and Sequel”–expect we’ll be replacing those two terms right off that bat. Hope to see you there.
A few more sites have reviewed the book.
Now, the fact of the matter is that not everyone will like every book. Some fantasy readers don’t think much of Tolkien. Others don’t like Brooks. Others don’t like Jordan. The list goes on. You can take the “best” writer in the world and the vast majority of the reading public will refuse to read them. These readers are not wrong. Nor are they, for the most part, meanies. They just didn’t have the kind of experience they hoped for. It could be the reader wasn’t totally in the audience for the book. It could have been the book didn’t execute well. Or a little of both. Or maybe neither–it was just not the right timing. Life can happen and affect a reading. Anyway, I found 2 more reviews. They’re positive, but they also point out issues they experienced while reading. I don’t have a hard time hearing such things (why I don’t is the subject for another post). In fact, sometimes I find them insightful. And if I begin to notice a pattern, I will often look at what they’re talking about to see if I can’t figure out what’s causing it. If it’s something in my control, then I will consider it with the next story. If not, then no harm done.
Assassin is moving along. I’m heading into the last quarter of the book, which is where the fireworks start. I appreciate all of you who have been so patient. My goal is to end this arc of the series with a bang.
In the meantime, I’d like to recommend a fantasy novel. I enjoyed it many years ago and recently reread it, finding myself swept away with as much intrigue and delight as the first time.
It’s The Shape-Changer’s Wife by Sharon Shinn.Â
The story follows an aspiring wizard named Aubrey who is nearing the end of his training. He asks his mentor, the wizard Cyril, to teach him transmogrificationâthe art of changing formâbut Cyril refuses. Aubrey protests. Cyril knows the spells. He has cast them himself. Still, he refuses.
Eventually, however, Cyril’s conscience gets the better of him. A well-rounded wizard should know every branch of magic, even the ones Cyril dislikes. So he writes to another wizard, a shape-changer named Glyrenden, and asks if he will take Aubrey as a student. Glyrenden agrees.
As Aubrey sets off, Cyril gives him a warning: “Learn everything he teaches you so well you can cast his own spells back at him. Glyrenden respects only those stronger than he is, and those he hates. If you cannot beat him, he will destroy you.”
And so begins the tale.
There’s mystery, wonder, betrayal, loss, battle, and even love. Best of all, it’s a complete stand-alone novel, a rarity these days.
If you’re hankering for a fantasy adventure that can be read in one volume, I think you’ll be very pleased with this one.
Happy reading,
John
I’ve added a number of entries to the calendar, including three conferences I plan on attending.
I know I’ll be presenting at the first two. The title and description of the League of Utah Writers presentation are:
TITLE: The Secret to Getting Story Ideas
DESCRIPTION: How to stop generating great story ideas by accident and start generating them on purpose, whenever you need them.
I don’t know what I’ll do for LTUE. I might do a repeat of the “The Secret to Getting Story Ideas,” or I might do something on how to write scenes or how genre is the key to plot. Stay tuned!
| Date & Time | Event | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right now | Writing | Office | It’s all for you, Dear Reader |
| 2015, Summer | Release of Awful Intent, a Frank Shaw novel | All major online retail venues | The date is not firm. |
| 2015, Aug 28-29 | League of Utah Writers Fall Conference | Logan, UT | League of Utah Writers |
| 2016, Winter | Release of Hard Target, a Frank Shaw novel | All major online retail venues | The date is not firm. |
| 2016, Feb 11-13 | Life, the Universe & Everything | Provo, UT | LTUE website |
| 2016, May | LDStorymakers Conference | Provo, UT | LDStorymakers website |
| 2016, Summer | Release of Glory: The Dark God Book 4 | All major online retail venues | The date is not firm. |
I’m very pleased to announce that Podium Publishing, the folks producing the audio versions of the Dark God books, has cast Alex Wyndham as the narrator for the Dark God series. Production is scheduled to take place in March and April.
Wyndham is an actor from the UK who has played television and film roles and narrated a number of audio books. Wyndham is the real deal. Just give the samples below a listen.
You can listen to other samples on Audible by clicking on his name or by going to his Bee Audio profile.
Folks, I cannot wait to see what he does with the books.
The Dark God is rising…
