Rob Howell's Blog, page 7
March 7, 2024
Rob’s Update: Planet Comicon
Greetings all
Another productive week in Robland. I did a bunch of work in Okkorim, completed the bulk of the behind the scenes work on Paladins of Valor, and organized a bunch of books donated by a local library.
Side note: We have a bunch of new romance, westerns, and young adult, plus many other titles in different genres. The sweetie glommed on to the cookbooks. Sorry.
The big thing this week, of course, was the prep for Planet Comicon this weekend. It’s at Bartle Hall in KC, and if you’re in the area, come chat. I’ll be the big guy wearing a Rush shirt. If that’s not enough, my booth number is 1746.
I’ve actually got a fantastic location this year. I got a corner spot, which was generous of them. It’s close to the West Dock, which is fantastic from a logistics perspective. Plus, there’s a restroom about as close as I could hope.
Gonna be a great weekend!
One note on Paladins of Valor. I sent the art to Chris Kennedy so he’d have it when the time came to upload. His response, in his best Captain Kirk voice, was, “That. Is. GORGEOUS!”
As usual, he’s absolutely correct. Cover reveal in a few weeks.
Most of this week’s writing and editing focused on Okkorim, however. We have a bunch of content coming out in March, including 3 new modules plus a slew of other Okkorim content.
And we’re just ramping up. We’re making a whole new world and I’m so honored to be a part of it. If you want to see it grow, join the Gaxxworx Patreon at: patreon.com/GaxxWorx.
With that, I’ll wish you a great week. I’ve at least a couple hours to throw some words at the page in one of my most productive places ever. More on that in a moment.
Have a great week!
What I’m Listening ToLongtime readers will have some idea just how many days I spent in Brewbakers over the last decade.
Well, since I’m in KC for Planet Comicon, I get a chance to claim my booth for a day.
So I’m listening to the overhead random music they play. Just now, they had Call Me by Blondie. A favorite song from my past. And, of course, Debbie Harry. Happy sigh.
Quote of the WeekHappy birthday to Elizabeth Moon! She’s one of my favorite writers. Her space opera Heris Serrano series is brilliant and her Deeds of Paksenarrion series is even better. It is one of those series *every* fantasy author should read just to see her breathtaking skill and attention to detail.
Anyway, here’s her paying attention to, well, you’ll know when you read it.
“Sometimes I wonder how normal normal people are, and I wonder that most in the grocery store.”― Elizabeth MoonDragon’s Tidings
OMG, we have so much new stock. A bunch of the fabric that’s been on order arrived. Send best wishes to our poor FedEx guy who had to push it all into the building.
Plus, of course, the huge influx of new books.
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
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/.
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 ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (4,809)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
Witness Mysteries and Thrillers
https://mybookcave.com/g/witness-mysteries-and-thrillers-2/?bcsrc=m96pfh
Coffee Break and Freebies
https://books.bookfunnel.com/coffeebreakandfreebies/hsqe3790uv
More Salvage Title! This week, we have Fallout on Darsaana, most Salvage Title action from Melissa Olthoff. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CW1FNXP1.
But wait! There’s more Melissa! Your pre-release this week is Companions in Chains. This one is in the 4HU! Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CW18Q45T.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 370.2lbs
Updated Word Count: 82,830
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
February 29, 2024
Rob’s Update: Leaping into Leprechaun Month
Greetings all
Happy Leap Day. Congrats to all the people who were born on February 29th and get a birthday every 4 years (well, except for years evenly divisible by 100 but not by 400).
I had another productive week, especially with Paladins of Valor. It’s now a complete manuscript and went off to the editor on Tuesday.
Plus, I got to see the first draft of the art by J. Caleb Design. Great stuff! We’ll have a reveal at some point in March.
However, to get your whistle wetted, we’ve got interviews with some of the authors in Paladins of Valor writers. I’ll post those on my blog in the middle of April as we get close to the release.
However, you can get a sneak peak on these interviews by joining the New Mythology Mailing List here: chriskennedypublishing.com/fantasy-mailer/.
I got a goodly amount of writing done, both in The Feasting of Vengeance and a new sooper sekrit project. It’s in bits and pieces on a few different computers, but I got about 5k done all told.
I spent the past week editing a bunch of stuff in Okkorim in order to have new modules looking ship-shape for Gary Con in a less than a month. OMG, it’s less than a month!
Speaking of things sneaking up on me, Planet Comicon is next weekend! Whaaa? How did March get here so fast?
In any case, I’ll be in booth 1746. Come on by!
With that, I’m getting back to writing. Have a great week!
What I’m Listening ToI thought I’d change this up to new and cool stuff that I found, and some weeks that will still be the case. However, I’ve honestly had my head buried in work, so I barely notice anything new.
So, back to the old way.This week, I’m currently listening to my favorite Cream song, Tales of Brave Ulysses.Quote of the WeekThe Riddlemaster of Hed is such a good book, one of those books I read in grade school that inspired my love of fantasy. Happy birthday to Patricia McKillip and many thanks to her memory for all the inspiration she gave to bunch of us.
“When you open your mind and hands and heart to the knowing of a thing, there is no room in you for fear.”
― Patricia A. McKillip, Riddle-Master
We have a bunch of new stuff. Dozens of new bolts of fabric and hundreds more books. Come in and see all the cool stuff!
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
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/.
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 ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (4,809)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/New Releases
This week we have book 2 in James Fox’s Sol Saga universe. It’s called Retaliation and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CW29B39G.
Your pre-release this week is Fallout on Darsaana, most Salvage Title action from Melissa Olthoff. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CW1FNXP1.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 369.0lbs
Updated Word Count: 81,777
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
February 22, 2024
Rob’s Update: Overcoming the Odds
Greetings all
As I mentioned, I ended last week with a nasty cold. It knocked me back on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. However, despite all that, I had a really productive week, though not necessarily on everything I anticipated.
Divine RevelationsLet’s start with Okkorim because I have art to show off!
Over the last few months I’ve been fleshing out the pantheon of gods in Okkorim. This batch included 10 major gods and 30 lesser ones, and is over 60,000 words of description, dogma, new spells, new magic items, and religious institutions.
Okkorim is already a cool setting, but I can absolutely tell you there’s some amazing stuff in here. Divine Revelations is a small primer of the cosmology of Okkorim available to Luke’s Patreon followers. He wrote most of it, but I’m also editing a bunch of stuff they have, as I did with this.
MirelieNext is Mirelie, the deity of magic among other things. Luke came up with the basic concept, but this supplement is the fuller depiction of Mirelie. What do the priests do? What symbols represent the deity? Where are their major religious sites? What are the religious orders who follow Mirelie? And of course, several new spells and magic items.
I’m excited about what I’ve been able to contribute, and I think it’s going to be something players of D&D 5E and Castles and Crusades will love.
Again, if you’re interested, go to: patreon.com/GaxxWorx and sign up for at least the Silver Membership ($5/month). That gives you all the G20 magazine stuff that comes out, and let me tell you, I’m editing a ton.
Let’s turn to Paladins of Valor. It’s basically in the can and goes to the editor next week. Just waiting on a few edits.
I’ll give you a tease of two authors I was excited to work with in here. First, there’s Edie Skye, the author of the Titan Mage fantasy romance series. Here stories can be spicy or not, but they always have a lot of action.
On a completely different note, we also have Glen Cook returning with another Black Company story. I’ve been honored over the years by his support.
Speaking of New Mythology Press, we’ve been kinda quiet lately. This has been because we’re rearranging some of the foundational stuff in the background to make it work smoother for us to produce and cooler for you to read.
I can’t yet get into specifics, but I’ll tell you this, the schedule for later in the year is starting to come together.
One of the changes, by the way, is that we’re moving the bigger announcements and stuff to New Mythology’s mailing list, as I announced some time ago.
Here’s the link to join: chriskennedypublishing.com/fantasy-mailer/
Also, I started another sooper-seekrit project this week. It’ll be some months before I can talk about it, but I think it’ll be really.
Oh, one last thing. The local historic theater is going to show Star Wars on Saturday, May 4th. We’re planning a shindig and I have a question for you:
What is your favorite Star Wars-themed food?
Quote of the WeekStill hits me in the feels 43 years later.
“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
– Al Michaels on February 22, 1980, as time ran out in the USA-USSR hockey game in Lake Placed.
planetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/r964Jvy
New ReleasesThis week’s release takes us back to the Fallen World, as Brisco Woods continues his saga of the first nanite-enhanced Specialist in Truth and Consequences. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CVNF5F6R.
That’s the 20th book in the Fallen World now! Wow!
Your pre-release this week is book 2 in James Fox’s Sol Saga universe. It’s called Retaliation and you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CW29B39G.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 371.4 lbs
Updated Word Count: Need to update the spreadsheet, somewhere around 40k this year so far.
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
February 15, 2024
Rob’s Update: Happy Valentine’s Day
Greetings all
I came down with a cold today, so today’s update is short and sweet.
Also sweet was the day my sweetie and I had yesterday for Valentine’s Day.
Rob’s Works in ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (4,089)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
Read Freebies on Any Device
https://books.bookfunnel.com/freebiesonanydevice/lunmmezw5e
Mid-Winter All-Genre Fantasy With Strong Female Protagonists
https://books.bookfunnel.com/midwinterfantasyfemaleprotagonists/drv88c3cgx
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/iiMxRdU
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/Rd6yH0p
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 370.2lbs
Updated Word Count: 22,000
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
February 8, 2024
Rob’s Update: Plugging Away
Greetings all
It’s another productive week, but it wasn’t how I expected to go. There’s also news.
Most important, we started the process of getting the kid, her guy, and the grandkid down to Anthony. We’ve been hoping this would happen for a while, and now it’s in progress.
Second, more news about GaryCon. I’ll be running a couple of gaming sessions which is great. It’s been a while since I’ve run games at cons, but that was 20-30 years ago and I can’t wait.
That’s in part because game nights have done well twice in a row with me DMing in the Firehall Sagas. It’s a chance for me to build the world and build the local community at the same time.
More and more gets done with Paladins of Valor every week. Mostly, we’re in the stage where authors are doing edits, but I’ve been also assembling it. I had the pleasure of editing Howard Andrew Jones’ Hanuvar story this week, and man is it good.
I didn’t write as many new words in Okkorim as I have in past weeks, but about 4,000. Also, I did a bunch of editing and setup as we transition to the next phase. It’s really an awesome project and I’m honored to be a part of it.
New and CoolI haven’t eaten cereal in a decade, but I tried the GrainBerry Multi-Bran flakes on a lark recently. I rather like it. I’ve had more cereal in the last week or so than I had since the 80s.
Quote of the WeekHappy birthday to Jules Verne! Might have to re-read 20,000 Leagues again.
Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.
– Jules Verne
A fun week here. We keep getting new stuff every week. This week was a bunch of new fabric, along with expanded drink selection for the game nights.
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
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/.
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 ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)Okkorim (61,988)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
February Fantasy Freebies
https://books.bookfunnel.com/februaryfantasyfreebies/u3akhw43pd
Speculative Fiction Blast
https://mybookcave.com/g/speculative-fiction-blast/?bcsrc=m96pfh
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/NOWTjSG
https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/4bbedb60-bbc2-11ee-81e5-2f15e70935d4
New ReleasesThis week we have Wolf Legion by William S. Frisbee, Jr., the ninth book in The Last Marines. Holding Earth continues to get harder, and everyone is against the last Marines, but will they give up? Never! Check out the entire series here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5WRRMPB.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 370.2 lbs
Updated Word Count: 21,693
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
February 1, 2024
Rob’s Update: Happy Groundhog’s Day Eve
Greetings all
There’s no big news this week. I’m plugging away at tasks for bigger projects like Okkorim and Paladins of Valor. I was very productive, but it’s one of those weeks where I can’t point at a major item of note.
Between editing and writing, I dealt with something like 60,000 words this past week, which is nice. However, as I say, they’re tasks within an overall project.
I spent a goodly amount of time straightening up in the garage and shop areas. Still a long way to go, but my goal of getting the shop going in April or so for some woodworking projects is on track. Plus, I have a special plan for a chunk of the garage.
I think that’s it for this week. It’s a short update, I know, but this was one of those boring yet necessary and productive weeks.
Have a great week, everyone!
New and CoolIt’s not new and cool, but I’ve been rewatching Babylon 5. Such a good show.
Quote of the WeekHappy Coronation day to Edward III on this day in 1327.
And here’s his parenting technique with his son, the Black Prince.
Also say to them, that they suffre hym this day to wynne his spurres, for if god be pleased, I woll this journey be his, and the honoure therof.
– Edward III
We had a great game night this past Monday, and I know the word is spreading. This past week we started a 5E campaign in the Firehall Sagas.
Also, the Beginning Quilting class has been a big hit so far. Session 3 tonight.
Oh, and we’re starting to see more longarm quilting jobs. If you’re interested in that service, you might want to reach out. At some point, there’ll be a wait for her to get started.
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
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/.
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 ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)Okkorim (58,116)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
February: Free Fantasy & SciFi
https://books.bookfunnel.com/fantasys...
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/l1SsMIe
New ReleasesThis week we have Stolen Dreams from Dennis M. Myers, the 4th and final book in his Rise of the Automated Empire. Get it here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0CT5V8G8M.
This week’s pre-release is Wolf Legion by William S. Frisbee, Jr., the ninth book in The Last Marines. Holding Earth continues to get harder, and everyone is against the last Marines, but will they give up? Never! Check out the entire series here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5WRRMPB.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 371.0 lbs
Updated Word Count: 21,114
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
January 25, 2024
Rob’s Update: Under the Thumb
Greetings all
Was a bit of a dreary week this week because we’ve had mostly gray days. One drawback to the new building is its lack of insulation, so not only has it been gray, it’s been chilly inside.
My wife thinks it’s hilarious, though, as when we lived in Kansas City, I never wore sweaters at home. Now, I often do. She likes to knit, but she’d never make me one that I wouldn’t wear. Now she just taunts me with it a bit.
I spent much of this week helping not only write Okkorim stuff but assisting with G20, which is the newsletter that Luke Gygax puts out. If you’re part of his Patreon, you can see some of what I’ve written for his world, plus get other tidbits. His Patreon is here: patreon.com/GaxxWorx.
I did about 5,000 new words in Okkorim, plus started reading through the notes for The Ravening of Wolves.
I also made great strides with getting Paladins of Valor done. I feel odd a bit this year, as I feel like I’m really late. However, FantaSci is a month late, so I’m really exactly where I should be.
I did some reading this week too. I’ve been getting back to my roots, and currently I’m re-reading the Barsoom books from Edgar Rice Burroughs. Also, I spent a lazy afternoon re-reading The Ghost of Dibble Hollow. This was a book I read in 4th grade or so, one of the many things I pestered my parents about during the Scholastic Book days, and it was one of my favorites as a kid.
I hadn’t read it since the early 80s, at least, and I was a bit nervous that it might not have aged well. However, it’s still a great kids book, even if the editing of 1965 used different standards than I do nearly 60 years later. The book has action, mystery, suspense, rivalries, and of course, a ghost. I’m keeping it to read to the grandkid.
And hey, tonight, I’m going through making this newsletter under the thumb of viewers. A couple of writers who are on the New Mythology Discord joined me as I typed it up. I showed them my methods, and hopefully it’ll help them.
Really, it’s been another one of those weeks where I didn’t think I got much done, but in retrospect, we did a goodly amount.
And with that, I’m going to go introduce myself to the wife.
New and CoolDid I mention G20 from Luke Gygax on Patreon? This month’s issue, edited by me, along with a lot of my content, comes out in a few days. Sign up here: patreon.com/GaxxWorx.
Quote of the WeekIt’s been 7 years since Mary Tyler Moore passed, but I still love watching reruns of shows she’s in. Plus she provided all creators with a great quote here.
Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.
– Mary Tyler Moore
We had our first game night at the store. Sadly, as it was the first and the weather was wretched (cold, gray, and icy), we only got one person. However, I expect that’ll grow as we go along.
Every Monday night starting 5ish to 9ish.
Tonight, we’ve got the second session of the wife’s Beginning Quilting class. Also, we have some paper piercing classes coming. If you’re interested, check out our class schedule at:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
I had an incredibly hard time choosing the winners of this year’s open call for Paladins of Valor. So many stories I wanted to publish, but here are the four I finally selected as the best.
Chris Hepler with High Water MarkNathan Balyeat with Welcome to DetroitDavid Birdsall with The Passing of the MantleChad Boyer with Apprentice in TroubleI’ve edited all of these at this point, and I’m pleased to say they’re even better than I realized.
Current Schedule of New Mythology Press
Rob’s Works in ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)Okkorim (52,813)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/t0OCEsf
Adventure, Horror, and Wonders in Space
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/JHgHfww
https://storyoriginapp.com/to/WvMD6e8
New ReleasesMore 4HU awesomeness this week in Foiled Ambitions from John M. Olsen. This is the eleventh book in the Four Horsemen’s Phoenix Initiative. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CSKNY8FS/
Your pre-release this week is Stolen Dreams from Dennis M. Myers, the 4th and final book in his Rise of the Automated Empire. Get it here: amazon.com/gp/product/B0CT5V8G8M.Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 368.2lbs
Updated Word Count: 15,467
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
January 18, 2024
Rob’s Update: Guess I’m Going To Chattacon 50
Greetings all
Chattacon 50Well, wasn’t that a fun announcement from Chattacon? In case you missed it, they’ve invited me to be Toastmaster for Chattacon 50. I’m excited and honored to be part of the list shown here.
I can’t thank the Regina, Lani, Lee and all the other folks I’ve met at Chattacon enough for giving me this opportunity.
Also this week, we’ve added a new mailing list just for New Mythology Press! Kacey Ezell is running it and she has a bunch of cool ideas for it. She’s much better at this sort of thing than I am, so at the very least, you might want to sign up just to see how she’s setting things up. I’m already learning a ton.
Sign up here: chriskennedypublishing.com/fantasy-mailer/
Oh, and there’s a rather nice reader magnet for all who sign up, with short stories by myself, Jon R. Osborne, Kacey Ezell, and David Shadoin. Also, there are some legends from both my Firehall Sagas and Trisha J. Wooldridge’s 27 Kingdoms series. And, of course, snippets, including several from other New Mythology series such as Kevin Steverson’s Balance of Kerr series, Scott Huggins’ Endless Ocean series, and Christopher G. Nuttall’s Heirs of Cataclysm series. There’s no better way to find out what we’re about.
I appreciate all of you who are a part of my mailing list, and one reason I’m so excited about this other mailing list is I think it’ll help me do better by you. Expect some freebies from me coming your way soon, too.
I have yet another announcement! I’ll be at GaryCon in March. I’ll get to talk about Okkorim and, of course, play as much D&D as I can. It is the 50th anniversary of D&D and I suspect I’m going to wallow a bit. However, my big plan will be to hopefully meet a bunch more game producers and designers.
Thanks to Luke Gygax for all these opportunities!
I spent this week working on edits for Paladins of Valor and Okkorim. All told, about 10,000 words written this week, which is really nice.
I had intended to get going on The Feasting of Vengeance, but to be honest, I was going so good with Okkorim I didn’t want to break the momentum.
My writing philosophy is basically, get words on the page. Anything that gets in the way, like feeling I have to do all of the writing projects I’ve got going on, should be avoided.
And with that, I’ve got another idea, so I’m going to go do some more.
New and CoolDid I mention the New and Cool New Mythology mailing list? Check it out here: chriskennedypublishing.com/fantasy-mailer/
Quote of the WeekHappy birthday to A.A. Milne! Or would that be Happy Poohday? Nah, probably not.
But here’s a lovely quote from him.
“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.”
― A.A. Milne
We’re starting the long-promised game nights at Dragon’s Den!
Mondays starting 5ish and going to 8ish. First time will be Monday the 22nd. Hopefully some of you can make it over.
For the first one, I anticipate either a Session 0 of an RPG, Munchkin, or something else like that. Or maybe all of it, who knows?
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
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/.
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 ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)Okkorim (48870)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
Woo-niverse Giveaways to Keep You Warm & CozyWoo-niverse Giveaways to Keep You Warm & Cozy
Hybrid ProloguePlus here’s another author swap.
Check out L’Anne McMarie’s Hybrid: Protocol here:
storyoriginapp.com/swaps/ef32518c-b618-11ee-be67-1751e8a754e3
New Releases
This week we have a new series! It’s from James Fox, and the series is the Sol Saga. Book 1 is Revolution and you can get it here: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRZ6MZTR.
Your pre-release this week is Foiled Ambitions from John M. Olsen. This is the eleventh book in the Four Horsemen’s Phoenix Initiative. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CSKNY8FS/
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 364.2 lbs
Updated Word Count: 14,509
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
January 11, 2024
Rob’s Update: Winter Weather
Greetings all
Apparently, I needed a snow day, and I got one. We closed for the snowstorm on Tuesday and I spent the day essentially out of it. I guess I’ve been going pretty solid, so time to breathe.
I did a bunch of work in Okkorim this past week. I’m up to over 42,000 total words written there, and more coming. That’s about 7k this past week despite the day off.
I made progress in editing for Paladins of Valor, though not as much as I intended. I’ll have most of them edited by the time of next week’s update. It’s great stuff, guys. Going to be very hard to choose the best one out of the open submissions, plus of course great stuff from H.P. Holo and Glen Cook.
We also had a major project finished here. The front door to the apartment literally had a 1/8th in gap in the panels. Also, there was a set of old windows that needed replacing because it wasn’t any better at holding in the cold wind.
Those got replaced yesterday and we already see a huge difference.
Also this week has been some cleaning up for the classes we’re holding here. We have students! Another revenue stream! Go us.
Overall, I’d intended to start seriously writing on the Feasting of Vengeance, but too much was going on. Hopefully next week, but we’ll see. Got to finish with Paladins of Valor first.
New and CoolThis isn’t really new to me, but the last time I was at Jungle Jim’s, I found a new salsa I love: Da Bomb Scorpion Garlic.
As you might guess, with scorpion peppers it’s got a huge kick. However, it had so much garlic that was the flavor that dominated. Really tasty.
Quote of the WeekIn 1787, William Herschel discovered Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus. This quote from him is sort of like his work, the deeper you look at it, the more you learn.
“Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt.”
– William Herschel
We had a very slow week of traffic, but we’ve had a bunch of enthusiasm for the classes. Next week won’t be much better, what with the weather.
Given us time to do projects. Oh, did I mention we have a longarm quilting machine and my wife has too much time on her hands? (Yes, I know I’m going to pay for that)
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
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/.
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 ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)Okkorim (42,101)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
First, I’m doing a book swap with Merick N.H. Ulrik. John Price: Lost in Time looks really interesting.
Check it out here: storyoriginapp.com/swaps/eb23b8c0-af64-11ee-b338-679d4d4ff22d
New Year Booktopiabooks.bookfunnel.com/newyearbooktopia/bwq06b6j5q
New Years Sci-fi and Fantasy Promo
books.bookfunnel.com/newyears_sci_fi_fantasy/fznou11zrh
Free Science Fiction Booksmybookcave.com/g/free-science-fiction-books/?bcsrc=m96pfh
New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebies
New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebiesbooks.bookfunnel.com/newyearscififantasyfreebies/ukebd39of3
New ReleasesThis week we have Prince Conqueror by Fred Hughes. This is book 7 in his Prince of Britannia series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CRD7CL1V.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 366.8 lbs
Updated Word Count: 1,412
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
January 4, 2024
Rob’s Update: New Year, New Update
Greetings all
Here’s hoping you all had a great new year! We had a tame New Year’s Eve, having chucked our plans and lounged on the couch. 2023 was a great, but exhausting year.
As we move to 2024, I’m making some renovations to the update list. First of all, I’m replacing the What I’m Listening To to New and Cool. Often, this will be books, music, and shows that are new to me, but can be all sorts of things I think are cool. That might be some happening in Anthony, too, as I got rid of that separate category.
Judging by the feedback, you guys like the Quote of the Week section, so that’s staying, as is Rob’s Riddles, which I plan to start doing that regularly again soon.
The New Mythology Works in Progress section is going away as a separate section. Why? Well, we have some really cool announcements to make on that front down the road. Also, I’ll be talking about it more in this portion.
In its place will come Dragon’s Tidings, which will have something of interest from Red Dragon Quilts and Dragon’s Den Books. I’m also bringing back the Freebie Section. This is where you can download some free stuff, including something from me.
Now back to the what I did this week. A short story went to the editor on Tuesday and I wrote about 5k in Okkorim. I’ll have a fun update on that soon.
I’ve started sending out edited stories for Paladins of Valor. Still a long way to go to climb that hill but it’s a beautiful vista ahead of us.
And with that, time to get back to work.
New and CoolSabaton is 25 years old this year, and if you haven’t listened to them before, they’re the best Swedish symphonic metal specializing in military historical themes I know of.
25 years? That’s pretty darn cool.
Quote of the WeekHappy birthday to Jacob Grimm, born on this day in 1785. You might remember him for his fairy tales, but I’ve grown fascinated by his linguistic laws. Here’s a link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimm’s_law.
He also seems to have been a man after my own heart.
“A good friend doesn’t let you do stupid things …. alone.”
― Grimm
We have our first classes at Red Dragon Quilts! These include Beginning Knitting on the 13th, English Paper Piercing on the 16th, and 2 8-week long courses on Beginning Quilting.
Check out our class schedule:
reddragonquilts.com/calendar.htm
I had an incredibly hard time choosing the winners of this year’s open call for Paladins of Valor. So many stories I wanted to publish, but here are the four I finally selected as the best.
Chris Hepler with High Water MarkNathan Balyeat with Welcome to DetroitDavid Birdsall with The Passing of the MantleChad Boyer with Apprentice in TroubleRob’s Works in ProgressSowing Spring’s Wrath (3,213)The Feasting of Vengeance (3,405)Upcoming EventsPlanet Comicon, March 8-10, Kansas City, KSplanetcomicon.com/GaryCon, March 21-24, Lake Geneva, WI
garycon.com/FantaSci, April 19-21, Durham, NC
fantasci.rocks/LibertyCon, June 21-23, Chattanooga, TN
libertycon.org/Pennsic War, July 26 – August 11, Slippery Rock, PA
pennsicwar.org/Freebies and Cool Stuff
Free Science Fiction Booksmybookcave.com/g/free-science-fiction-books/?bcsrc=m96pfh
New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebies
New Year Sci-Fi Fantasy Freebiesbooks.bookfunnel.com/newyearscififantasyfreebies/ukebd39of3
New ReleasesThis week we have book 8 in the Last Marines series by William S. Frisbee, Jr. It’s entitled Wolf Emperor and you can get it here amazon.com/dp/B0CR1TXG61.
Your pre-release this week is Prince Conqueror by Fred Hughes. This is book 7 in his Prince of Britannia series. Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0CRD7CL1V.
Tracked ItemsMy Weight Today: 364.4 lbs
Updated Word Count: 678
Firehall Sagas Archives: 758 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
