Category Archives: Announcements

Fantasy, Announcements, News, Novellas

‘The Fall of the House of Kyzer’ begins serilization today!

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Today marks the beginning of the serialization of my novella, The Fall of the House of Kyzer. Here’s a synopsis for you:

In Thyrion, power is everything.

But not for Jaysynn, the youngest of the Kyzer royal family who rule the city with an iron fist. He alone is unable to manipulate magic, making him an outcast in his own family. However, General Dracon, himself non-Select, sees the prince’s potential and trains him to be a warrior in his own right.

In the wake of the Cataclysm, Jaysynn is the only Kyzer to survive. Ascending to the throne, he is overwhelmed by the weight of the crown and the devastation of his city. What’s worse, he learns of a conspiracy brewing within his own ranks. Even as Emperor, he feels like an outcast.

It will introduce a character (not Jaysynn) who, I hope, will be a prominent villain in future stories.

Chapters of this novella will be posted on the website every Tuesday and Thursday for the next several months. You can also subscribe via our e-mail newsletter. We also post a “behind-the-scenes” blog every Friday. We love getting feedback from our readers.

To join the adventure, click here.

 

Uncategorized, News, Announcements

No Superman because YouTube is stupid

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I was going to post a new episode of my vlog, “But I Digress…,” which is a review of the new Superman film, Man of Steel, but YouTube won’t let me. Or rather, it makes my video bug out and gets muted at the same place every time I uploaded it. I don’t know if it’s because the video’s encoding is corrupted (it plays fine on my laptop) or if YouTube is being a jerk because I used two pieces of Superman music. Those are the only explanations I can think of. If it’s the latter, what’s the problem? I’m using them to promote the new film and do some comedy! Last I heard, that was allowed in copyright law.

Regardless, this isn’t the first time I’ve had issues posting videos on YouTube. I did e-mail their customer support, but I have no idea if that will help.

I’m to the point where I think I may start posting videos elsewhere, even if it means I won’t get as much exposure. Perhaps I’ll find a video plug-in for WordPress. I also hear good things about Vimeo. Or YouTube will fix things. Who knows what where my future videos will find their home?

If I did “move ” I wouldn’t abandon my YouTube channel. I’d use it for previews of my videos, or perhaps for personal videos. Only time will tell.

Until then, please be patient as I figure out how and where to get my new vlog posted.

Announcements, News

The saga of ‘Children of the Wells’ begins today!

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The new web serial, Chidlren of the Wells, launches today! (No joke!) Click here for the website.

It begins with the serialization of The Select’s Bodyguard, a novella by my friend Nick Hayden. The story is as follows:

When Bron, bodyguard to the Select, is jolted awake by an explosion, he quickly discovers that the entire city of Jalseion is in flames. Everywhere, people are dead, buildings collapsed, whole neighborhoods demolished. The scientific center of the world…burning to the ground.

And the Select, those who rule through the magic in the wells? Where are they, and what has happened to the magic that powers the city?

Bron banishes fear and uncertainty as he crosses the rubble with one goal: to find her.

Nothing else matters.

This story will go until July, when my novella, The Fall of the House of Kyzer, and The Doctor’s Assistant by Laura Fischer will start being posted.

You can read more about my involvement with the serial here.

News, Announcements

NaPrWriMo 2013: Here I Go Again!

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You may remember that I participated in National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo). It was “unofficial” participation, since I didn’t use the prompts provided on the website; I simply endeavored to write one poem a day for the month of April. This year, however, I’m going to try using the prompts. It’ll probably be difficult, but it’ll be a worthwhile exercise, I’m sure. So, you can expect posts from me daily in the coming month.

If you’d like to read my favorite poems from last year, click here.

News, Appearances, Announcements

Meet me and the Indiana governor at a future signing!

Roanoke Public Library

Governor Mike Pence

I’ve been meaning to announce this for some time, but I’ve been ironing out a few details first.

I will have a book signing at the new Roanoke Public Library in Roanoke, Indiana. It will be at the library’s new location. Moving to this new place has been a big community undertaking, so much so that Indiana’s newly-elected governor is scheduled to appear! Yes, True Believers, Mike Pence will be at this signing! You what’s even better? I actually like him as governor!

The signing will be May 4 from 10am-3pm. Come buy copies of my books or bring your own so I can sign them–for free! (My signatures are always free).

News, Announcements

‘Children of the Wells’ – COMING APRIL 1!

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Remember that web serial project I broke news about on my vlog back in December?

It starts April 1 (no joke)!

Children of the Wells (CotW) is a bit of a first for me. I’ve been involved in serial fiction and group projects before, but nothing like this. The previous serials I worked on were never published; they were read and enjoyed only by the writers’ club I joined in college. The previous group project I participated in with those same writers produced Destroyer (which I may make a special edition of to include Nick’s new story, “House of the Living“). CotW, however, will be an ongoing web serial for everybody to enjoy! It has been over a year in planning, and I can’t wait to see it luanch.

What is CotW about? Read this:

The Cataclysm destroyed our magic wells and, along with them, our technology, our scientific advancements, and our aristocracy. We thought the world was dying. Forced to rely on our former enemies, we evolved, but in those first days, we had no inkling of the true extent of that change.

It takes place in a semi-modern fantasy world where technology developed around magic. If you’ve seen and/or read Full Metal Alchemist, you’ll have a good understanding of this concept.

The saga will begin with the serialization of the first novella, The Select’s Bodyguard by Nick Hayden (a writer friend whose name I can’t stop dropping). This story takes place in the scientific capital of Jalseion just after the disaster and introduces the characters of Bron and Calea. Calea is a nihilistic but brilliant young scientist making breakthroughs in magic technology and Bron is her singleminded bodyguard.

The story will continue in July with the publication of my novella, The Fall of the House of Kyzer. This will introduce readers to the imperial city of Thyrion, which rules much of the world with an iron fist, and to the heroic prince Jaysynn Kyzer. He is the youngest son of the city’s Emperor and Empress, but unlike them and his six siblings, he has no magic abilities, making him an outcast in his own family. However, Jaysynn is trained by Gen. Xander Dracon, himself a non-magic user, to become a warrior in his own right. There’s more to it than that, but I won’t give you any spoilers. Sorry, True Believers!

The adventure begins April 1!

Click here to see the website. Sign up for the newsletter and spread the word!

News, Announcements

Nominate me for the Eugene and Maralyn Glick Indiana Author Award

Unbeknownst to me until I wandered into my local library and found bookmarks for such, there is an award given to Indiana authors every year. It’s the Eugene and Maralyn Glick Indiana Author Award.

According to the award’s website:

The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award was established when The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation received a generous grant from The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation. This program seeks to recognize the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation.

The Award categories are:

  • National Author – $10,000 prize: A writer with Indiana ties, but whose work is known and read throughout the country. The national author will be evaluated on their entire body of work.
  • Regional Author – $7,500 prize: A writer who is well-known and respected throughout the state of Indiana. The regional author will be evaluated on their entire body of work.
  • Emerging Author – $5,000 prize: A writer who has published no more than two books during his or her lifetime. The title(s) must have been published within the last 10 years. Emerging authors will be evaluated on these specific works.

In addition to a cash prize, each author’s Indiana hometown public library will receive a grant of $2,500 from the Library Foundation.

This means you can nominate me for the “emerging author” award.

Well, what are you waiting for, True Believers? Click here to nominate me!

News, Appearances, Announcements

Book signing postponed (again!)

Due to yet more scheduling issues, I must unfortunately postpone my book signing at The next Chapter Bookseller in Warsaw, Indiana, once again. I haven’t determined a new date, but it’ll most likely be the first Friday of April. My apologies for the inconvenience. I will keep you updated on new developments.

UPDATE: The book signing has been tentatively rescheduled for April 5, 2013. Stay tuned for more updates.