New Ventures and Old

Wow, lots going on.  I feel like I went from waiting around for things to happen to almost too busy.  A good problem to have.  That being said, I thought I'd take a moment just to give everyone some updates.  

Pillaging the Sun on Kindle Vella is doing well.  Top faved.  Top ten in many of its categories.  Great reviews.  New chapters are being uploaded by Minor Manor Press every week and thus far, I've been able to stay ahead.  It is definitely a different way of writing, and I'm not sure which I enjoy more.  It's fun to have you all along for the ride before it's all done.  With Scarlet, the story was done before anyone got a chance to read it, with few exceptions.  The Pillaging series is developing as you all read and that is both intimidating and exciting. 

My Dungeons and Dragons venture has become a full blown company and miniature store.  We've got a patreon, a website, the whole deal.  The company is call Androids, Aliens, and Wizards: 3D Adventures.  It's gonna be fun.  Hopefully we can expand from narrative story lines with accompanying miniatures to full settings and adventure guides.  We'll see.  Depends on how successful we are.

That of course also means that I have a lot of work to do turning the campaign I'm running with my friends and daughters into a narrative and continue building the adventure.  Its fun though.  If you haven't given TTRPG's a chance, I suggest you do.  I missed out as a kid, but it is truly terrific fun.

Hope everyone is keeping well and safe, especially with COVID surging again.  Take care.  Be kind.  

Brandon 

Virginia 8/2021

New Book: Channeling My Inner Dickens

 

All things old become new and visa versa.  It used to be, in the olden times, authors like Charles Dickens, Author Conan Doyle, Alexandre Dumas, even later authors like Ernest Hemingway had their novels first published by chapter.  From the Pickwick Papers to Farewell to Arms, books often used to see their first publication in such a format, as periodicals or in magazines like Scribners.  Now, Amazon is bringing that format back to the public.

The first novel in my new series will be published first on Amazon Vella.  Instead of waiting a year or more for the full novel to be edited, formatted, type set, approved, reproved, reedited, cover illustrated, copy edited, content edited... (you get the idea), you will be able to read nearly as I write it.  I say nearly, because of course my publisher will still be editing etc..., but as proof, the first chapters are already up and available and there will be a new installment every week.  So, how does it all work and what is the new book about.

Click on the photo or the links to Vella and follow Pillaging the Sun.  You'll be notified of new chapters (first three are free) and how to continue the adventure.  Be sure to review and give me a thumbs up—just like any other platform, that all helps.

Here's the promo blurb:

Having barely survived an apocalyptic rise in the earth’s temperature, humanity as only recently recovered a small portion of what they lost—of what they destroyed.   The ingenuity of Montgomery Camden's company Ouranos may have scrubbed the skies of carbon monoxide and given those that remain the shining city of Gaia, but if he can’t find a reliable source of power, all will have been for naught.  Harassed by religious fanatics, public riots, the weight leadership and threats to his family, he looks to the sun, sending settlers across the Great Desert.  Liam leads the expedition, hoping to build a new life for his family—hoping to provide the power the city so desperately needs.  But there is more at stake than just solar fields and onyx skyscrapers.  Even in a world where life is precious, when resources are scarce, there will always be those willing to steal to survive.  There will always be those willing to kill.  Filled with action, intrigue, and coming of age drama, Pillaging the Sun is a science fiction adventure that rings with cautionary truth about our own future, while leading readers on a wild, fantasy ride.

I hope you enjoy.  Be sure to comment and interact wherever you like best.  I love hearing from you all.

Brandon

Virginia, July 2021

And Then There Were Five

1.  Scarlet and the Keepers of Light
2. Scarlet and the Dragon's Burden
3. Scarlet and the Queen of the New World
4. Scarlet and the Barrier's Fall 

—and 5.  It has been almost two weeks since Scarlet and the Shattered Throne was released and thus far it seems to be hit.  Good reviews, some happy fans (one young lady had some very particular complaints regarding dragons), and great in person feedback.  A QUICK NOTE, IF YOU LIKE A BOOK, REVIEW IT.  IT REALLY HELPS.  I want to thank everyone who is continuing to make Scarlet a success.  It's been a long ride, but well worth it.  There are still some great things to come regarding Scarlet.  The paper and hardback copies will be on the way soon and there might even be some audiobooks read by yours truly—although the later is a great deal of time and work, so, we'll see.  A lot of that is out of my hand though so...Amazon Prime are you listening.  I'm definitely ready to strike a deal...

I am currently working on a new Young Adult project.  The first book will be titled Pillaging the Sun.  My publisher and I have been toying with the idea of adding it to Amazon's new Kindle Vella before publishing the full book later on.  A bit like going back to the era of magazine serialization with a new technological twist.  So keep a look out.  Of course I will be shouting it from the rooftops once dates get reasonably close.  

I've also begun sharing my new D&D hobby with everyone.  The second installment is out and available to read on my new website https://www.westdnd.com.  Click over to continue the story or start from scratch if you missed the first episode.

As always, I'm happy to hear from you all and look forward to discussing Scarlet and D&D, or books in general.  

Till next time,

Brandon

Book 5 and Some D&D

 On the 27th, the final book in Scarlet's adventure will be released.  Scarlet and the Shattered Throne marks the conclusion of her adventure, but not mine.  I have a new young adult series in the works and a series geared more toward adults (both fantasy) on the horizon. Of Course, hopefully there's still much fun and talk to be had surrounding Scarlet.  I can't wait to hear what you all think.  Additionally, even though Book five will be out on kindle the 27th, there is still the newly designed, hold in your hand, and put on you shelf set coming out in the next several months.

The Morning After Battle

To celebrate all of this and to provide something more interesting than reading me babble on this blog, twitter, and facebook, I've decided to serialize my D&D campaign on the blog.  I began playing last year (I  never played as a kid) and caught the bug.  I started DMing a campaign for my daughters, my brother, and my best friend earlier this year and it has been a blast.  This also give me an opportunity to explore some styles I might not have otherwise written in without the seriousness of a finished product.  I'll be posting the episodes to Patreon to keep costs low and offer some benefits beyond just the episodes.  It's supposed to be fun—for me at least—so while I welcome input and will correct as I go if people catch things...well, you get the idea.  

I'll be breaking up the chapters in bite sized pieces.  Starting with a little 3rd person limited perspective, present tense (for all you word nerds).  I usually write 3rd person multiple perspective in the past tense. 

I hope you enjoy.  Feel free to share and follow me wherever you prefer.  

Please keep in mind, that while the story is original, Dungeons and Dragons was created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.  The rights are currently owned by Wizards of the Coast.  The world I am using for this campaign is Eberron as presented in Eberron: Rising from the Last War. 

The majority of my referenced D&D collection is from my account and purchased material with D&D Beyond.  Including: 

Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt. (2019). Eberron : rising from the last war.Wizards Of The Coast.

Mearls, M., & Crawford, J. (2014). Dungeons & dragons player’s handbook. Wizards Of The Coast.

Mearls, M., & Crawford, J. (2014). Dungeon master’s guide. Wizards Of The Coast.

Mearls, M., Crawford, J., Schwalb, R. J., Sernett, M., Townshend, S., & Wyatt, J. (2014). Dungeons & dragons. Monster manual. Wizards Of The Coast.

Wizards Of The Coast, Inc. (2020). Tasha’s cauldron of everything. Wizards Of The Coast Llc.

Crawford, J., Mearls, M., & Wizards Of The Coast, Inc. (2017). Xanathar’s guide to everything. Wizards Of The Coast.

30 Day Health Experiment (w/ before and after photos)

 Last month I hurt my knee, or it hurt it self, the exact cause is still a mystery, but regardless I was forced to stop running and gain as much holiday weight as possible.  It was obligatory.  Now that the holidays are over, and unfortunately my knee is still weird, I have had to find a new way to get into shape and attempt to see my abs.

For thirty days I took our puppy for a 2.5 mile daily walk and every hour, for 12 hours a day, I did 20 pushups.  I did this while recommitting to a plant based whole food diet.  What were the results at the end of that thirty days?...

As you can see by the pictures below, there was a remarkable increase in muscle mass and overall vigor.  What most surprised me, however, was the increase in height.  One does not expect, over the age of forty, to get any taller, but as you can see, there is clearly 4 inches gain in height.

In conclusion, I highly recommend those looking for a more humane, healthy way of eating, to give WFPB a try and get to walking.

The Dwayne Johnson Rule

 I would like to enact the Dwayne Johnson rule.

It's really quite simple and I hope will bring some much needed peace and tranquility to our world.  But before I explain this glorious tool for future communication in the digital world, first let me briefly explain why we need such a rule. 

The internet, and social media in particular, has become a license for us to be our worst selves.  Not unlike when you are in you car, alone, and the idiot two lanes over cuts you off without a turn signal.  You proceed to curse and yell, informing this hapless driver of all the imaginative things you think of him as a person, only to realize you are going to the same place.  You then awkwardly and politely walk by as you pass him on the way into the supermarket.  On social media, this same effect of semi anonymity allows us to feel safe to rant and rave, to spew hate filled tirades, and to splinter into factions fueled by falsehoods and conspiracy theories.  Although road rage has its own not so innocent consequences in some cases, most of the time these rants in your car go unheard.  Perhaps chalked up to simple cathartic expression.  This is not so with social media.  People are listening.  Your voice is going beyond the metaphorical car and out into the world.  And as recent events have clearly shown, there are consequences.

So, the Dwayne Johnson rule...  

If you are going to voice something on social media, whatever it might be, personal opinion, political position, your stance on race relations, how much you hate tofu, whatever it is, stop and imagine yourself saying it to the Rock's face.  Actually picture yourself, no doubt for most of us, looking up into his face and saying "Mr. Johnson, I think, I feel, I believe _____"  If you think that you would not have a problem doing that, then by all means, carry on with your post.  If not, keep it to yourself.  Perhaps seek some therapy or snuggle with something warm and fuzzy instead.  I suggest a labradoodle.  

Now, I love the Rock, but it doesn't have to be him.  You can alter the rule to make it a better fit for you.  You could imagine John "the Bones" Jones, or perhaps a friend of a friend who happens to be a navy seal. Think outside the box.  You could imagine voicing your opinion in a crowded barber shop or in front of a platoon of marines. Just be sure, when applying the rule, you are alone.  It doesn't count if you are picturing yourself with your fellow Nazi buddies or your local Stalin MMA club.  Group think, as social psychology tells us and mobs and riots show us, can be just as bad.

Now go out there and post with confidence knowing that with the simple application of the Dwayne Johnson rule, you are no longer contributing to the downfall of our society.  

The Wait Is OVER!

 

Scarlet and the Barrier’s Fall

Book 4 of the Scarlet Hopewell Series!

With strange new alliances, Charles Hopewell has finally found away to get to Scarlet…bring down the barrier that separates the two worlds.  But it’s a decision fraught with danger and unforeseen consequences and the army he and Xavier hoped to built is far from complete.  Scarlet herself must decide whether Aiden Thanerbos, the young man she had once thought of as her mortal enemy can be trusted.  She wants to believe.  She is desperate to save the people who look to her for guidance and protection.  Busy cleaning up the mess from the siege on Washington’s Haven, a battle that nearly cost her everything she holds dear in the New World, she is more desperate than ever to fulfill the destiny of the For Tol Don.

In this fourth installment of the Scarlet Hopewell series, worlds collide in grand scope as the final battle between good and evil looms.  Filled with romance, magic, and grand adventure, everything is about to change as the barrier falls.

It has been a long wait...but the day has finally arrived.  Stars have aligned—all the right things have fallen into place—and all with my first and fabulous editor, Miranda Ottewell, and the designers at Minor Manor Publishing, including the beautiful cover designed by Krister Swartz.  I'm sorry it took so long, but I am hoping, and in fact am pretty confident, it was worth the wait.  The great news for all my fans who have stuck with me and the new fans to come, Book 5, Scarlet and the Shattered Throne, is finished and in the final stages of publishing.  So you won't have to wait long for the conclusion to Scarlet's story.  

 

London's Calling

Checking in—this time with a bit more than the usual books and tv.  I made it over the Atlantic to London in addition to what I've been reading and playing, so I have some pictures for this post.

I thoroughly enjoyed the city that I can best describe, no offense meant by the disparity in historical ages, as an amalgamation of New York and Washington D.C.  Due to rebuilding after the bombing in World War II, London has a very modern city vibe, skyscrapers and all, with that financial, busy people doing business things energy.   At the same time, there are scores of tourists crowding the streets and around every corner is a monument, statue, or building that speaks to the city's place as a capital and the United Kingdom's storied and lengthy history as an Empire, Kingdom, and nation.

I had the Rick Steeve's book for London and he mentioned that for Americans traveling to London, and England in general, there is a sense of the familiar, almost a coming home.  I can definitely relate.  Despite some obvious differences, plenty for those like myself who relish the cultural nuances experienced when traveling, there is a great deal of comfort and ease about traveling in London.  There is of course a shared language, but it goes beyond that.  For many Americans, England provides our roots, not only in heritage, but in the formation of our country, its laws, and certainly in our culture.  In addition, I have seen London so many times on big and small screens, read about it through 56 Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and heard about it in history books, the whole trip had a visiting relatives feel about it.

And Summer is Knocking

June is upon us: the end of school, outdoor pools have opened, heat has arrived, and I, like many, am reminded that I'm on the wrong end of getting in shape.

Anyway, been a couple weeks and I thought I check in.

Reading


I'm going to start here because in addition to finishing Mythos, I also read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Landsing, and the later turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read—certainly one of the best non-fiction.  Not to take anything away from Mythos.  If you enjoy the Greek myths, it really was a terrific way to hear the stories of the God and Titans and Stephen Fry is as witty and funny as always.  Despite showing a remarkable knowledge of the subject, his book is very accessible.

As for Endurance, if you don't already know about Shackleton's Voyage to Antartica, don't look it up.  Just buy Endurance and start reading.  You will be riveted by what is not only fantastic writing—the whole book reads like the best of adventure fiction—but by the thoroughly researched true story.  Tears welled up in my eyes at the end and I am not, by nature, a crier.

Currently, I'm onto fiction and at the suggestion of my best of friends (the same friend that introduced me to Joe Abercrombie) I am reading Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

Television

Check In

In order to make it easier for me to stay in touch, I thought I would borrow a bit from some other other authors and just try and write a bullet style check in once a week.  That way, if you are at all interested, we can stay a bit more connected even if I don't necessarily have something particularly insightful to say or perhaps, I'm busy doing other things and don't feel like I have the time to write a blog post.  This takes away many, if not any, excuses.  Feel free to contact me and gripe up a storm if I don't follow through.  Please.  There is nothing like fan driven pressure.

Without further ado, let the bullets begin:


Writing:
Currently I have three ideas in various stages of conception—I say conception because none of them have risen to draft status as yet.  One is a new young adult trilogy and the other two are not.  Of the adult books, one is contemporary, the other fantasy more along the Abercrombie/Martin line.

As to Scarlet, I am at the mercy of the publishing world at the moment.  Both book four, The Barrier's Fall and book five The Shattered Throne are written, however both are still in editing and post production.

Television:

Like most of the world I currently have Westeros taking up a great deal of headspace in my monkey brain.  While I very much wished I could have waited for the books to finish, the HBO series is just too compelling and I am weak.  Like you, I await the conclusion this coming Sunday with great anticipation and bit of sadness.  Hopefully, someday soon, the Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring will fill the void.

My wife and I are currently binge watching—for us that is the same show, one episode a night—West World.  At this stage, I'm fascinated, but impatient.  Verdict is still out.