Hail Sword Swingers,
After a disastrous 2024, I have managed to get back into the swing of things, and am writing regularly. I’m clocking in at 300 to 500 words every weekday. Much less than I would like, but enough to get the ball rolling again. Those things out of my control are not the only things that slowed me down. If I rely on excuses, I’ll never improve. Those things outside my control did greatly exasperate those thing inside my control that I failed at.
With that in mind I am looking to improve my health, my time management, regularly set reasonable goals, and quit doomscrolling. None of that is easy, but the small improvements I’ve made are already having positive outcomes.
On to the good stuff…
Swords & Heroes
I have a short story coming out in Swords & Heroes, an eZine where the story is delivered right to your inbox. I thought the idea of a story being directly delivered was great, so I wrote the best story I could and submitted it. Traditional forms of publishing have been on the decline for a while, and though I publish through Amazon, I don’t trust large corps – at all. So when an Idea like this comes up, I’m thrilled.
Swords & Heroes gets delivered twice a month. Mine is Story 14 and will be out November 26.
Sign up and look for “Shadow in the Eye” by yours truly. All back issues are available on his substack.
Lyn Perry’s S&S Roundup- https://tulefogpress.substack.com/
Black Friday Sale
Hans. G. Shantz’ 2024 Black Friday Cyber Monday Based Book Sale will be on Wednesday November 27 through Wednesday December 4, 2024. Here’s another great
opportunity to pick up some great Sci-Fi and Fantasy on sale.
I am putting up my Wandering Sword series for free, but only from November 27 through December 1 as that is all Amazon will allow. Everything else is $0.99.
So, pick up Citadel of Seven Swords and Weird of the Skull Totem for free! I would like to get my stuff out to as many people as possible before my 3rd book comes out, and I won’t be having another give away for quite some time so… gird thyself and prepare for battle.
My Amazon page- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erik-Waag/author/B0BXRD7PRC
I’ll repost links to the sale on Twitter when Hans posts them.
Princess of the Shrouded Mountain
Now that I am writing on a more regular schedule, book 3 of Skarde: The Wandering Sword is moving ahead… slowly. This past month I was able to complete a chapter, and do some needed world building. Most of my writing has gone toward shorts and other projects. My focus will be shifting back toward completion of book 3 at this point for two main reasons.
First, I have these ideas in my head and I need to get them down before they go to seed in my brain. New stories are half formed in my imagination, and I don’t want them blending together. They will need their own stories.
Second, and more importantly, I want it out for my readers. Sales of book 1 and 2 have slumped, as can only be expected. Book 2 was a big bump for book 1, and the best way to reach new readers is to PUBLISH. Several S&S fans that have read my first two have asked about the third, and I want to give them an even more action packed read than before. Going more than a year without publishing a novel might be standard practice in the traditional publishing world. Not so for the pulp inspired indies.
I can’t guess when I will have it out, but if my work and family life cooperate I hope to have a draft done within four months. I don’t want to do a rush job though.
Please cooperate, reality.
Anvil and Battleborn
I’m excited about the upcoming issues of Anvil, and to see Battleborn start its untame
life. Both of these projects appear to be delayed due to an issue with the printer and IRL issues cropping up. Richard at Iron Age Media is involved with both, and Sean is heading up Battleborn… both of these are projects of passion with very small teams. Considering the astounding quality of Anvil so far, a delay is no big deal. By all appearances, Battleborn will share in that quality of writing, art, and production. And so I’m happy to be patient and use that time to conjure up more tales to submit.
In the meantime, check out their websites-
Short Stories
Speaking of tales… I have just submitted TWO short stories in the past week. I don’t want to drop too many details. After all, competition is stiff, and I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’ll cross my fingers and hope I have something to announce in my next newsletter.
Booktube
Do four beardos constitute a booktube stream, or something else. That quandary aside, I joined Tim @secretfirebooks7894, Nick @thebookgraveyard, and Jake @pulpmortem to discuss Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber.
I thought my take would be controversial… it might be but it was taken in good stride.
Watch it here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_dRNXFMEO4
Youtube – Black Colossus
Of course, I have read Black Colossus. No, I have not finished digging around for tidbits about it, or produced a script, let alone filmed and edited a video. My REH Conan series has taken the biggest hit over the past month or so. Editing still take a LOT of time, and I don’t have much of it. I’m not primarily a YouTuber, so the priority has been low. I hope to get to it soon though.
The days have come
When the steel will rule
-Erik
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